U.S. Marines are being deployed to Los Angeles as riots opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enter their fourth consecutive day.
According to American media reports citing U.S. officials, 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division—stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton—are set to arrive in the city by midday Tuesday.
The unrest began Friday night in response to a series of ICE raids across Los Angeles. What started as mass protests has since devolved into violent confrontations. Rioters have set vehicles ablaze and besieged multiple government buildings. Fireworks have reportedly been launched at mounted police units, and federal agents trapped in isolated areas have required aerial resupply via police helicopters.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have publicly supported the protests, along with many Democratic Party politicians, though both have stopped short of condoning the violence. The situation prompted President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops last weekend after he federalize the units from California’s National Guard. Late Monday, it was reported that an additional 2,000 National Guardsmen will be deployed to Los Angeles bringing the total number up to 4,000 in addition to the 700 Marines.
The deployment of Marines marks a further escalation, with officials indicating that their arrival is expected within 24 hours.
Calls for Governor Newsom’s arrest have intensified among conservative officials. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has openly urged Trump to take action against Newsom. On Monday, Newsom challenged Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan, daring him to “go ahead and arrest me.” Trump responded later that day, saying, “If I were Tom, I’d arrest him.”
Meanwhile, demonstrations have spread beyond Los Angeles, with mass arrests reported in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and at least two dozen additional cities. In San Francisco, three police officers have reportedly sustained injuries.
Late Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles Police Department declared a “Tactical Alert” for all of Los Angeles which means all uniformed police officers will remain on duty.