HOUSTON (United States), June 10 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) on Monday said 700 Marines would be deployed to Los Angeles, California to support response efforts amid ongoing immigration protests, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
In a statement, USNORTHCOM said the deployment aims to bolster Task Force 51 with sufficient personnel to “provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency.”
Task Force 51 currently comprises around 2,100 National Guard soldiers under Title 10 status and 700 active-duty Marines, trained in de-escalation tactics, crowd control, and rules of engagement.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the deployment, calling it “un-American.”
“They are heroes. They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfil the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President,” Newsom said on social media platform X.
The mobilisation of Marines marks a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s response to protests, following an earlier announcement by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and USNORTHCOM that 500 Marines would be deployed.
So far, 300 members of the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have arrived in Los Angeles, with a potential stay of up to 60 days.
Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have voiced opposition to the federal deployment, insisting that local law enforcement is capable of managing the situation. They accused Trump of using federal troops as a political manoeuvre to inflame tensions.
Newsom on Monday also announced a lawsuit against Trump, alleging that the president’s actions were unconstitutional and violated state sovereignty.
“We are suing Donald Trump. This is a manufactured crisis,” Newsom said on X. “He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the US constitution.”
Trump dismissed the criticism, defending the federal response.
“I think we have it very well under control. It was heading in the wrong direction. It’s now headed in the right direction,” he said.
He added, “We hope to have the support of Gavin, because Gavin is the big beneficiary as we straighten out his problems. I mean, his state is a mess.”
The protests erupted last Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids at local businesses, detaining hundreds of undocumented individuals.
The Trump administration said the ICE operations would continue as part of its broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
