The United States military officials stated on Wednesday that the U.S. Marine Corps will join the National Guard in Los Angeles within 48 hours, and they will be authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids or clashes with federal agents when necessary.
Protests erupted in the streets of Los Angeles against the government crackdown on illegal immigration last Friday. President Trump then mobilized the National Guard last Saturday and called in the Marine Corps on Monday. Trump stated at an event at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, “If I didn’t act quickly, Los Angeles would have been turned into rubble by now.”
The U.S. Northern Command stated in a release that a battalion consisting of 700 Marine Corps members has completed specialized training for handling the chaos in Los Angeles, including conflict de-escalation and crowd control.
The military stated that the Marine Corps will join the National Guard within 48 hours under Title 10 authority, not for civilian law enforcement but to protect federal officials and property. According to Title 10, in specific circumstances such as preventing attacks, protecting others from harm, or preventing interference with federal personnel carrying out their duties, forces can “temporarily” detain individuals and hand them over to law enforcement.
U.S. Army Major General Scott Sherman is in charge of commanding the task force composed of the Marine Corps and National Guard. He mentioned that the Marine Corps will have live ammunition but will not chamber it. Sherman added that Marine Corps members have completed the necessary training at Seal Beach in southern Los Angeles County.
A U.S. official stated that Sherman’s comments adhere to standard rules of engagement and do not imply an expansion of law enforcement powers. The Pentagon emphasized that besides protecting government buildings and personnel, these forces will also safeguard immigrants and ICE officers during raids.
President Trump has accelerated the pace of deporting illegal immigrants since the beginning of his second term to fulfill his campaign promises. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday that ICE, its subunit, has been arresting an average of 2,000 immigrant offenders daily, much higher than the daily average of 311 during President Biden’s term in the 2024 fiscal year.
Protests against the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration have spread from California to New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and other major cities. Multiple organizations are planning hundreds of demonstrations across the U.S. this Saturday.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom has sued the Trump administration, alleging that the deployment of the Marine Corps is illegal. California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Reuters on Tuesday that allowing federal forces to protect personnel may violate a law dating back to 1878 that typically prohibits U.S. military (including National Guard) involvement in civilian law enforcement.
A federal judge in San Francisco, California will hear arguments about California’s lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday.
(This article was based on reporting from Reuters)