President Trump has sent 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, increasing military presence amid protests against immigration enforcement. Local officials oppose this deployment, citing safety concerns. Protests erupted after over 40 arrests by federal immigration authorities, spreading to other cities.

Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines are headed to Los Angeles on orders from President Donald Trump, escalating a military presence that local officials and Governor Gavin Newsom do not want. The police chief has stated that this increase creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests.

An initial 2,000 Guard troops ordered by Trump started arriving on Sunday, which saw the most violence during three days of protests driven by anger over Trump’s stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws that critics say are breaking apart migrant families.

Monday's demonstrations were far less raucous, with thousands peacefully attending a rally at City Hall and hundreds protesting outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids across the city.

Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. They argue that he is putting public safety at risk by adding military personnel, even though police say they do not need the help.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed confidence in the police department’s ability to handle large-scale demonstrations. He stated that the Marines’ arrival without coordinating with the police department would present a “significant logistical and operational challenge” for them.

Newsom called the deployments reckless and “disrespectful to our troops” in a post on the social platform X.

“This isn’t about public safety,” Newsom said. “It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego.”

The protests began on Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested more than 40 people across the city. The smell of smoke hung in the air downtown on Monday, one day after crowds blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.

Additional protests against immigration raids continued into the evening on Monday in several other cities, including San Francisco and Santa Ana, California, and Dallas and Austin, Texas.