On Tuesday, June 10, hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area under orders from President Donald Trump, intensifying tensions in the country’s second-largest city. At the same time, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stern warning, declaring that “democracy is under assault.” Trump’s controversial decision to deploy both the National Guard and Marines followed a series of aggressive immigration raids, which ignited days of protests in Los Angeles and sparked demonstrations in other cities as well.

While Governor Newsom and President Trump continued their public feud, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged that protests remained largely confined to a few downtown streets. However, due to outbreaks of violence and looting, she imposed a curfew in certain downtown areas. Police arrested 197 people on Tuesday alone, more than doubling the total number of arrests thus far.

Democratic leaders voiced deep concern over what they see as a growing national crisis. The Trump administration’s hardline immigration enforcement and clampdown on protestors has created a volatile situation. In a video address, Newsom criticized Trump’s actions as reckless and dangerous. “This is a blatant abuse of power by a sitting president,” said Newsom. “He’s escalating the situation with force and spectacle, endangering civilians, law enforcement, and even the National Guard. Democracy is at risk.”

Newsom, widely believed to be preparing for a 2028 presidential bid, has condemned the troop deployment as illegal and wasteful. On Monday, he and the state of California filed a lawsuit against Trump and the Department of Defense to halt the deployment. Trump, in turn, hinted that Newsom should be arrested. During a speech honoring soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Trump defended his decision, claiming that the unrest in California is a threat to national sovereignty. He described the protests as acts of “invasion and third-world lawlessness,” vowing to “liberate Los Angeles.”

Protesters, in a show of support for immigrants, have carried flags from Mexico and other countries. The Department of Homeland Security reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now making around 2,000 arrests daily—far exceeding the 311-per-day average under the Biden administration in 2024.

City Unrest Escalates: Mayor Bass announced a curfew for a one-square-mile section of downtown Los Angeles from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for several days. Just before it took effect, protesters gathered peacefully with raised hands, chanting “peaceful protest.” Despite the generally nonviolent nature of most protests, local officials argued that Trump’s response was an overreach. Mayor Bass noted that while the majority of demonstrators have been peaceful, a smaller group has taken advantage of the situation to loot and cause destruction. She said she imposed the curfew after 23 businesses were looted Monday night.

Council member Ysabel Jurado emphasized that opportunists are exploiting peaceful protests to wreak havoc. As officials spoke, minor clashes continued between police and protestors near the Metropolitan Detention Center, where many immigrants are held. Protest groups continued to march across the city, trailed by police using crowd control measures. Similar scenes unfolded in other cities, including New York, Atlanta, and Chicago, where protesters clashed with police and called for the abolition of ICE. One protester, Christina Berger, said it was heartbreaking to see children live in fear of being separated from their families. “I just want to offer hope to my neighbors,” she said.

Military Presence Expands: Roughly 700 Marines were stationed in Seal Beach, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, awaiting deployment instructions. Around 2,100 National Guard troops were already present in the area, over half of the 4,000 expected to be activated. These forces are limited in scope—they cannot make arrests and are tasked solely with safeguarding federal property and personnel.

Still, California Attorney General Rob Bonta raised concerns about the legality of involving federal troops in immigration enforcement. He warned that this could violate the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits military involvement in civilian law enforcement. Photos shared by ICE on social media showed National Guard troops accompanying immigration agents during a raid, prompting further alarm. Trump administration officials have promised to intensify the immigration crackdown in response to the continuing protests.