Los Angeles Protest: 700 US Marines Land In LA Despite California Sues Trump; Mexico Urges Respect For Human Dignity | Latest Updates

Massive violent protests in LA

Tensions have been rising since Trump activated the National Guard on Saturday after street protests erupted in response to immigration raids in Southern California. It is the biggest flashpoint yet in the Trump administration's aggressive efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally. The announcement that Marines would be deployedwas made on the fourth straight day of protests.

(CREDIT: REUETRS)

Late on Monday, police began to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who gathered outside a federal detention centre in downtown Los Angeles where immigrants have been held. National Guard forces had formed a human barricade to keep people out of the building.  The LAPD said late on Monday afternoon that some protestors had started throwing objects at officers and the use of less lethal munitions had been authorized, adding in an X post: "Less lethal munitions may cause pain and discomfort."

California is suing the Trump administration over its deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles during protests over immigration raids, the California Attorney General Rob Bonta said https://t.co/24mDcLtotH pic.twitter.com/SVRu506xzu

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 10, 2025

California sue Trump administration for deploying National Guard

California sued the Trump administration to block the deployment of the National Guard and the Marines on Monday, arguing that it violates federal law and state sovereignty. US Marines have been deployed domestically for major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the September 11, 2001, attacks, but it is extremely rare for US military troops to be used for domestic policing. For now, the Trump administration was not invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement. The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that a contingent of 2,000 National Guard troops would be doubled to 4,000.

No choice: Trump

Trump said on Monday he felt he had no choice but to increase the level of force to prevent violence from spiraling out of control. Trump also said he supported a suggestion by his border czar TomHoman that California Governor Gavin Newsom should be arrested over possible obstruction of his administration's immigration enforcement measures. "I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great," Trump told reporters. Democrats said Trump's decision to deploy military force to handle the protests amounts to an abuse of presidential power, and California's lawsuit claimed it was illegal. "The level of escalation is completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented," Newsom's press office said on X.

(CREDIT: REUTERS)

Is it legal to deploy Marines in US?

Trump can deploy Marines under certain conditions of law or under his authority as commander-in-chief. The last time the military was used for direct police action under the Insurrection Act was in 1992 when the California governor at the time asked President George H.W. Bush to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King. More than 50 people were killed in the 1992 riots, which also caused some $1 billion in damage over six days. Federal law allows the president to deploy the National Guard if the nation is invaded if there is "rebellion or danger of rebellion," or if the president is "unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States."

Mexico's president urges respect for human dignity

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the US authorities to follow the law on deportation proceedings and respect human dignity, following recent mass roundups of migrants and resulting protests in Los Angeles, California. Sheinbaum, accompanied by Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs Juan Ramon de la Fuente, read a statement on the Los Angeles protests at her daily morning press conference, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement outlined five measures Mexico's government is taking to protect the rights of the Mexican migrant community in the United States."The government of Mexico will not tolerate practices that violate human rights," the president said, making a "respectful but firm" request that the US authorities act in accordance with due process and respect for human dignity."We do not agree with violent actions as a form of protest ... we call on the Mexican community to act peacefully and not give in to provocations," Sheinbaum added. Sheinbaum highlighted that most Mexicans in Los Angeles reside and work there legally, and the US economy "needs them."

(With inputs from agencies)