The city of Los Angeles has entered its second night of curfew amid ongoing immigration protests. The protests began last Friday in response to a series of immigration raids in the city. US President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops and Marines to support local law enforcement, citing the need to maintain order and protect federal property. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the use of National Guard troops and Marines alongside ICE agents and other federal personnel, saying Trump “has the right to utilise every authority that he has”.
Noem also claimed that federal officers have arrested more than 1,500 people and that the department has “tens of thousands of targets” in the region. “We have more assets now, today, than we did yesterday. We had more yesterday than we did the day before, so we are only building momentum,” Noem said. “This is only going to continue and be increased until we have peace on the streets of Los Angeles.”
However, California Governor Gavin Newsom has objected to the deployment of troops, and the state is seeking a federal court order to stop the military from patrolling the streets. California’s lawsuit argues that the federal government has already violated the law by having National Guard troops assist ICE agents in immigration raids. “For example, photos posted on social media by ICE depict heavily armed members of the National Guard standing alongside ICE agents during arrests,” California said in its latest court filing.
US Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcefully ejected from a news conference held by Noem, and his office claimed that he was later pushed to the ground and handcuffed. The removal of Padilla was swiftly condemned by other Democrats. The Trump administration has responded to the state’s lawsuit, saying that the judge should not restrict the military’s activities in Los Angeles. “Neither the National Guard nor the Marines are engaged in law enforcement. Rather, they are protecting law enforcement, consistent with longstanding practice and the inherent protective power to provide for the safety of federal property and personnel,” the administration wrote.
Meanwhile, Trump is set to host a military parade in Washington, DC, on Saturday to celebrate the army’s 250th anniversary, which coincides with his 79th birthday. The parade is expected to feature 6,500 troops, 150 vehicles, and 50 aircraft, and has sparked widespread protests across the country. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police, to help local law enforcement manage protests against Trump and the continuing federal immigration raids.
The protests in Los Angeles have been largely orderly but occasionally punctuated by violence. Police said demonstrators threw commercial-grade fireworks and rocks at officers on Wednesday night. Another group of nearly 1,000 demonstrators was peacefully marching through downtown when police suddenly opened fire with less lethal munitions in front of City Hall. US Army Major-General Scott Sherman, who commands the task force of Marines and Guardsmen, told reporters that the Marines will not load their rifles with live ammunition, but they will carry live rounds.