On Sunday, the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) stated that approximately 500 Marine Corps personnel are on standby and ready to deploy to Los Angeles to address the riot situation.
In addition to the 300 National Guard troops already deployed in Los Angeles, around 500 Marines from the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment based in Twentynine Palms, California, are on standby to support the Department of Defense mission of protecting federal property and personnel.
Protests and riots began last Friday following a large-scale deportation operation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting dozens of illegal immigrants in the city.
According to the Posse Comitatus Act, active-duty military personnel can only be deployed domestically under specific circumstances. The Insurrection Act of 1807 outlines these exceptions, which include suppressing rebellion, enforcing federal authority, or protecting civil rights when state governments fail to act.
As of now, President Trump has not indicated whether he will deploy troops in California under the Insurrection Act.
Earlier on Sunday, when asked if he would invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order and assist ICE in deportation operations in Los Angeles, Trump stated that he had not decided whether the current protest situation qualified as an insurrection yet. He said, “It depends on whether there’s an insurrection.”
Trump has directed senior military and justice officials to “liberate Los Angeles” amid the protest riots sparked by ICE raids on illegal immigrants.
Taking to the social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The once great city of Los Angeles has been invaded and occupied by illegal immigrants and criminals. Now, violent insurgents are flocking in, attacking our federal agents, attempting to halt our deportation efforts – but these lawless riots will only strengthen our resolve.”
He instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to “take all necessary actions to free Los Angeles from the invasion of immigrants and end these immigration riots.”
“Order will be restored, illegal immigrants will be deported, and Los Angeles will regain its freedom.”
Over the weekend, Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles to address the violence in the area.
Defense Secretary Hegseth warned that if violence continues, he may deploy active-duty Marines. He made this statement before Trump issued his formal declaration.
When asked about this, Trump stated that he did not rule out the possibility of deploying Marines to maintain law and order.
“If we see a danger to the nation and its citizens, (deploying Marines) would be a very strong action to uphold law and order. This is about law and order,” Trump said.
Before the deployment of the National Guard, a Home Depot in Paramount, a Latino community in southern Los Angeles, witnessed intense clashes. Protesters attempted to block Border Patrol vehicles, some threw rocks and cement blocks, while federal agents fired tear gas, flashbangs, and pepper balls.
That night, protests continued in Paramount with hundreds of demonstrators gathering near a donut shop as authorities set up barbed wire to prevent crowds from approaching. Conflicts also erupted in nearby Compton, where a car was set on fire.
Videos from the scene showed escalating clashes in downtown Los Angeles earlier on Sunday as protests entered their third day.
Large crowds gathered outside federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles, including the Metropolitan Detention Center, where hundreds had clashed over the past two days.
Local police declared the scene an unlawful assembly and began arresting individuals. Tear gas was also fired at the growing crowd near the federal building.
A group of people verbally abused National Guard members holding riot shields shoulder to shoulder.
At least four Waymo self-driving vehicles were set on fire near downtown. The Guard continued to use flashbangs overnight to maintain order.
California Governor Gavin Newsom demanded the withdrawal of the National Guard troops deployed by Trump on Friday.
Newsom said, “I have formally requested the Trump administration to withdraw the illegal deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return control of the troops to me.”
“We did not have any problems before Trump intervened,” he said. “This is a serious violation of state sovereignty – exacerbating tensions while drawing resources away from where they are truly needed.”
Newsom took to X to state that the Trump administration is trying to “take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers,” calling it a “deliberate provocation that will only worsen the tense situation.”
He added that local authorities “can call for law enforcement support at any time,” and that the state is in close coordination with city and county governments. He said, “The Guard has always provided admirable service to Los Angeles. This is a wrong mission that will undermine public trust.”
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended ICE’s arrests in Los Angeles, pointing out that ICE had arrested a 55-year-old illegal immigrant from the Philippines with multiple criminal records including assault, theft, burglary, and rape.
She wrote on X, “This illegal immigrant criminal is who (Newsom, Bass) and those rioters want to protect, not American citizens.”