The Trump administration is poised to confront a significant legal challenge in California today (Thursday) regarding its extensive deployment of military personnel to counter protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. This comes as more troops were slated for mobilization and nationwide demonstrations showed no signs of abating.
In Los Angeles, police used flash bangs and foam bullets to disperse a large downtown protest on Wednesday before a second night of curfew. Officers also fired foam bullets at dozens of protesters who continued to march in Koreatown, outside the curfew zone.
A federal judge in California was scheduled to hear the state’s request on Thursday afternoon to restrict the National Guard and Marines, deployed by Trump.
National Guard troops have been accompanying federal agents on immigration enforcement raids since their deployment last week, despite objections from state officials. The Justice Department contends that California’s legal action constitutes an attempt to curb the president’s authority.
Even as the legal battle unfolds, the Trump administration is proceeding with plans to increase troop presence in Los Angeles. The U.S. military’s Northern Command announced that approximately 700 Marines are expected to join the 2,100 National Guard troops already guarding federal property and personnel in the city by Friday evening. The commander of Los Angeles military operations stated Wednesday that the Marines were at a naval base south of the city, and an additional 2,000 Guard troops would commence training on Thursday afternoon.
Further demonstrations against immigration raids were planned for Thursday in several cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Madison, Wis. Hundreds of arrests have occurred nationwide since the protests began in Los Angeles last week.
Wednesday night also saw police in Las Vegas, Seattle, and Spokane, Wash., clear protests focused on federal buildings housing immigration enforcement facilities. In Spokane, the mayor declared a snap curfew, and officers arrested 30 individuals after protesters attempted to obstruct an Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle transporting detainees.
Conversely, protests in cities like New York and St. Louis concluded with minimal confrontation. Notably, the Texas National Guard was absent from a San Antonio march, a day after Governor Greg Abbott indicated he would deploy them statewide.
