In a rare move, around 200 U.S. Marines were deployed to Los Angeles on Friday to protect federal property following a week of escalating protests against aggressive immigration raids. The deployment, confirmed by Army Major General Scott Sherman, comes as nationwide demonstrations are expected Saturday, marking the largest backlash since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Up to 700 Marines have been authorised for the city, although officials stressed that troops would not engage in law enforcement duties or detain civilians. “This is a protective measure, not a policing one,” Sherman clarified.
The domestic use of active-duty military personnel is uncommon. The last such deployment in response to civil unrest occurred during the 1992 Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict, under the Insurrection Act.
On Thursday, a federal appeals court allowed the continued deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, temporarily blocking a lower court’s attempt to halt it. Trump celebrated the decision, writing on Truth Social: “We saved L.A.”
However, California officials—including Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the federal response as a dangerous overreach of power. “Trump’s use of military force is a threat to civil liberties,” Newsom said.
In downtown Los Angeles, anticipation of more protests led business owners to board up storefronts, particularly in the Little Tokyo area, which has been heavily tagged with anti-ICE graffiti. Despite visible damage, most protests have remained peaceful, though 33 protesters were arrested overnight for defying dispersal orders, and 13 were detained for breaking curfew.
The protests, sparked by federal immigration raids and detentions, have reignited fierce national debate. Organisers from the activist group No Kings have called for mass demonstrations on Saturday, coinciding with a controversial military parade in Washington, D.C.
The protests have spread beyond L.A., with incidents in cities like New York, Chicago, and Newark. In New Jersey, four detainees escaped from the Delaney Hall Detention Facility during reported unrest. Advocacy groups posted videos of demonstrators attempting to block law enforcement vehicles near the facility.
Public opinion remains split. A new poll found that 48% of Americans support military deployment to maintain order during violent protests, while 41% are opposed.
With tensions high and political stakes growing, Saturday’s nationwide protests could become a defining moment in the debate over immigration, federal authority, and civil liberties.
Reuters/s.s