Hundreds of U.S. Marines are reportedly being deployed to Los Angeles to help control the riots sparked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the city over the weekend, multiple outlets reported Monday.
Several hundred Marines will arrive in the city over the next 24 hours, primarily to support the National Guard and Los Angeles Police Department, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal, ABC News and CNN. The riots have caused widespread damage and violence across the city, with protestors violently clashing with authorities in response to ICE raids targeting illegal immigrants residing in the city.
“U.S. Northern Command has activated the Marine infantry battalion that was placed in an alert status over the weekend,” U.S. Northern Command announced Monday. “Approximately 700 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will seamlessly integrate with the Title 10 forces under Task Force 51 who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.”
President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of approximately 2,000 National Guard troops to the city Saturday to serve as support for the Los Angeles Police Department. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the administration over the deployment Monday, alleging that the president’s activation of the troops without Newsom’s approval exceeded Trump’s legal authority.
Over the weekend, nearly 1,000 rioters descended on the city, causing major damage which included surrounding a federal building while assaulting ICE agents, slashing tires and destroying government property on Friday night, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The rioting has caused considerable property damage while shutting down several busy streets in Los Angeles.
Newsom’s office referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to a X post from the governor’s press office claiming that the Marines had not yet been deployed, but are simply moving to “another base.” The post further stated that “the level of escalation is completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented — mobilizing the best in class branch of the U.S. military against its own citizens.”
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