The Voice News:
U.S. Marines are being deployed in Los Angeles amid ongoing protests. On Monday (June 9), the U.S. military announced that 700 Marines would temporarily be on duty there until additional National Guard troops arrive. British news agency Reuters reported the development.
The announcement of Marine deployment came on the fourth day of protests. That same night, police began dispersing hundreds of protesters who had gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles. Immigrants had been held at that facility.
The protests began Saturday in response to anti-immigration raids in Southern California. In an effort to suppress the unrest, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard. Since then, the situation has become increasingly volatile. This is now considered the Trump administration’s largest domestic conflict to date.
The state of California has taken legal action against the Trump administration to block the deployment of the National Guard and Marine Corps, arguing that the federal order violates both federal law and the state’s right to self-governance.
President Trump supported a proposal from immigration adviser Tom Homan, who recommended that California Governor Gavin Newsom be arrested for “obstructing the enforcement of immigration laws.”
The U.S. government has previously deployed Marines for domestic incidents during severe crises, such as Hurricane Katrina or the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, deploying them for law enforcement purposes is extremely rare.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the Trump administration does not currently plan to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow the military to directly participate in civilian law enforcement.
The Pentagon has confirmed that 2,000 National Guard members are currently deployed, and that number is set to double.
In a speech on Monday, President Trump stated that he had no choice but to increase the use of force to curb the spread of violence.
