Los Angeles, CA — The streets of Los Angeles have become a flashpoint in a rapidly escalating standoff between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, as protests over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids enter their fourth consecutive day.
In a dramatic move, Trump ordered the deployment of 2,100 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines under the designation “Task Force 51,” aimed at “providing continuous coverage of the area,” according to federal authorities. The unprecedented deployment, which bypassed gubernatorial consent, marks one of the most forceful domestic military actions in recent U.S. history.
The protests, sparked by mass ICE arrests largely targeting migrant workers, began peacefully but have since turned volatile. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and a sweeping lockdown of downtown Los Angeles, which has now been declared an “unlawful assembly area.”
Newsom Fires Back: “Illegal and Immoral”
Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move as both “illegal and immoral,” accusing the president of hijacking state authority and militarizing a civil crisis.
In a sharply worded post on X, Newsom wrote:
“The activation of US Marines in Los Angeles is a deranged fantasy. This is un-American. Trump is a dictatorial president.”
President Trump responded via Truth Social, claiming that Los Angeles would have been “completely obliterated” without military intervention and promised that protesters would be “hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”
Newsom has vowed legal action, revealing that California will sue the federal government to reverse what he describes as an unconstitutional federalization of the California National Guard. State Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed that a restraining order will be filed to block further troop deployments.
“There is no invasion or rebellion to justify this. This is a reckless abuse of power,” Bonta said.
Tensions Soar as Arrest Threats Fly
In an alarming exchange, Trump and his controversial “border czar” Tom Holman suggested the potential arrest of Governor Newsom should he interfere with immigration enforcement.
“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump said.
Newsom, visibly shaken in follow-up interviews, replied on X:
“The president of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.”
Protests Fuel Citywide Unrest
Demonstrators continue to flood the streets. On Monday, a massive crowd gathered across from Los Angeles City Hall demanding the release of David Huerta, a prominent labor leader arrested in the ICE raids. Released on $50,000 bail, Huerta’s case has become a rallying point for activists and union leaders alike.
Chants of “Free Huerta!” and “No ICE in our streets!” rang out as smoke from burnt-out vehicles hung heavy in the air. Protesters held signs denouncing both ICE and Trump’s crackdown on immigrant communities.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed growing alarm over the federal presence in her city:
“If ICE raids intensify, it will be pandemonium. The people are watching—and they are ready to respond.”
What’s Next?
ICE officials remain defiant, vowing to enforce immigration law and warning they are prepared to arrest protesters who obstruct operations. But with military boots on the ground and constitutional questions swirling, Los Angeles is now more than a protest zone—it’s the center of a deepening national crisis.
As tensions climb and lawsuits fly, all eyes are now on the federal courts and whether the deployment of military force in a U.S. city—without the consent of state leadership—will stand constitutional scrutiny.
