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The Pentagon confirms Donald Trump is deploying another 2,000 National Guard troops and it is activating 700 Marines in the Los Angeles area to help the federal response to protests against immigration raids
California Governor Gavin Newsom says he will take legal action against the istration over the deployments
Demonstrations began outside in downtown LA on Friday after it emerged Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids across the city
Our correspondent Carl Nasman is at a protest which has been declared to be an unlawful assembly - watch his report
It is highly unusual for US military troops to be involved in domestic law enforcement
Have you witnessed any protests? Get in touch with us here or on WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803, external
Watch: Police fire rubber bullets at Los Angeles protesters on Monday
We've just had clarification from our US partner CBS on what role the US Marines may take on in the Los Angeles protests.
More than 700 Marines have been put on high alert and could be mobilised in the coming days to the National Guard, CBS reports.
We have ed the Pentagon for comment.
Earlier, we reported that the Marines had been deployed in a role.
In a series of posts on X, LA Mayor Karen Bass has called on demonstrators to protest peacefully so they "don’t fall into the Trump istration’s trap".
"Protest peacefully. Looting and vandalism will not be tolerated," Bass wrote.
The mayor also said she has met with immigrant communities as the federal government continues "stoking the fire of lawlessness and chaos".
"Let me be absolutely clear – as a united city, we are demanding the end to these lawless attacks on our communities," she said. "Los Angeles will always stand with EVERYONE who calls our city home."
Despite similar sentiments from California officials, Trump has doubled down, saying in a new Truth Social post that "they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before".
"The Insurrectionists have a tendency to spit in the face of the National Guardsmen/women and others," he said in his post. "But not in the Trump istration. IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT."
We are hearing reports now that the Pentagon has deployed 700 US Marines to Los Angeles.
One US official says the Marines will play a similar role to the " role" the National Guard has been tasked with, CBS - the BBC's US partner - reports. It's unclear exactly what this might look like on the ground.
It comes days after Trump federalised California National Guard officers in response to protests about immigration enforcement.
Moments ago, during that press conference we were covering in our previous post, Donald Trump was asked directly whether he planned to send in the Marines.
"We will see what happens. I think we have it very well under control," he answered.
Image source, ReutersSpeaking now at the White House, Trump was asked about the California's governor and attorney general suing him for federalising the state's National Guard.
"You watch same clips I did: cars burning, people rioting, we stopped it," he said.
"If we didn't do the job, that place would be burning down just like the houses," he added, seemingly referring to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles in January.
"I feel we had no choice ... We did the right thing."
Further asked about the lawsuit, Trump says he's "hoping to have from Gavin [Newsom]".
"He's the beneficiary as we straighten out his problems".
As a reminder, federal agents sent to Los Angeles are stationed outside federal buildings and not on the streets of Los Angeles.
Mike Wendling
Reporting from Chicago
Image source, ReutersA federal agent walks back to his vehicle after making immigration arrests in Chicago last week
In other cities across the US with large immigrant populations, people are wondering whether the president will send troops onto their streets.
Here in Chicago there was a small protest downtown this morning. Others are planned tonight and later this week.
The dynamic has most of the same elements as in LA. Chicago is also a “sanctuary city”, meaning police are restricted in how much they can co-operate with federal immigration agents.
Chicago’s mayor and the governor of the state of Illinois are both anti-Trump Democrats. And pro-immigrant activists say Chicago police are skirting the rules. They also say ICE are inviting immigrants to check-in appointments, only to put them under arrest, and are targeting workplaces in predominately Hispanic neighbourhoods. Tensions are high.
The Chicago Police Department denies it’s co-operating with ICE – and the federal authorities say they’re enforcing the law.
Among the protesters downtown this morning was US Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, a prominent local Hispanic leader, who called the ICE raids “cruelty with intent.” He also told a local news outlet that Chicagoans should be wary of “outside agitators”.
There’s concern here and elsewhere that Trump could send in National Guard troops if, like in LA, protests intensify and turn violent.
California's Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on governors of other states to oppose Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angles.
"The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the military into any state he wishes," he says.
"Every governor - red or blue - should reject this outrageous overreach," he says in a post on X.
"This is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism that threatens the foundation of our republic," he adds. "We cannot let it stand."
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have announced that they are suing the Trump istration in response to their deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth are named in the suit, which accuses them of usurping state authority and resources, infringing on California's states rights, and violating a federal law that requires the governor's consent to federalise the national guard.
“Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the US constitution and overstepping his authority. This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic,” Newsom said in a press release.
Bonta says the protests had mostly been quelled before the National Guard was sent in, and that its involvement escalated the situation.
“Let me be clear: There is no invasion. There is no rebellion. The president is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends," Bonta said.
Lisa Lambert
Reporting from Washington DC
We're looking into the details of the lawsuit lodged by California's Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom against the Trump istration.
In it, they accuse the president of "exceeding" his government's authority under the 10th amendment.
Almost immediately after the states approved the US constitution in 1789, Americans made 10 amendments to the document, known as the Bill of Rights.
That 10th amendment clarified where the federal government's power ended and where states' power began - a major issue for former colonies that had experienced a great deal of autonomy before the Revolutionary War. Simply, the amendment says that any power that is not given - or "delegated" - to the federal government by the Constitution is given to the states.
But rarely is the Constitution simple. As with most of the Bill of Rights, Americans have had some major disagreements over the 10th amendment, especially during the Civil Rights era. There is even a whole centre dedicated to educating people about it., external Some read the amendment as granting states' power, while others read it as limiting the federal government's.
Expect to hear about the amendment a lot more in the coming future, as California and possibly other states will use it to legally challenge President Trump's federalisation of their National Guard. The state is arguing that he has gone against the 10th amendment. It is an interesting reversal of the typical positions. Throughout US history, it has been Republicans and their conservative predecessors who advocated the most for states' rights and for the 10th amendment.
Image source, ReutersPerla Rios, an indigenous community leader in LA, says their community is asking for an end to mass ICE raids
Families of warehouse workers detained by ICE on Friday have been speaking at a news conference, demanding justice and due process for their relatives.
Relatives emphasise that those they say were "kidnapped" by ICE - with the of Los Angeles police - are the breadwinners, upon whom their families depend.
One speaker, Montserrat Arrazola, says she witnessed her father being detained. She describes seeing families of those detained "screaming and crying" and says ICE "should not be allowed in the workplace".
Gabriel Vasquez, who's brother Jacob was arrested, says employers should be held able for working with ICE and demands that California's sanctuary status is respected.
For context: Los Angeles is a sanctuary city, which means it does not co-operate with federal immigration enforcement.
The daughter of Mario Romero, who was also arrested on Friday, says she saw ICE putting her father in handcuffs and chaining him from the waist and ankles. She says she hasn't heard from him since then.
California's Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom have sued the Trump istration for deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, without Newsom's authorisation.
In a statement, Bonta calls the deployment an "inflammatory escalation uned by conditions on the ground".
Bonta claims the deployment "exceeds the federal government's authority" and violates the 10th amendment - we'll bring you more on what that means in a moment.
California attorney general announces lawsuit against Trump for National Guard order
Gary O'Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent
America has become so unpredictable that we’re almost always wrong about what comes next. But one thing about this battle over immigration and law and order is clear: escalation feels almost inevitable.
The shackles are off in Trump’s second term. The president feels liberated - surrounded by like-minded loyalists who enable rather than restrain him, as some tried to in his first term.
He has justified sending in the National Guard to Los Angeles, overriding the state governor, by branding people as rioters and insurrectionists. But he's being accused of performative politics - a flex - designed to make his opponents defend the indefensible (some protests have turned violent, with cars set on fire and police officers under attack). Critics say Trump also is trying to galvanise and reassure his base that he's following through on those explosive campaign promises to deport millions.
The president’s recent attacks on institutions – universities, law firms, the courts – aren’t random. They’re part of a structured and determined use of presidential power. These boots on the streets are another manifestation of that - and this time it's visible and physical.
Trump’s language is telling. He has called the protesters “insurrectionists” – but also claimed there’s no insurrection yet. That phrasing leaves the door open to invoking the Insurrection Act – which would let him deploy active troops, not just the reservists of the National Guard.
We’re told 500 US Marines are already on standby at Camp Pendleton in California. If they’re deployed, that would mark an extraordinary shift: regular US troops enforcing law and order on US soil. For many Americans, that is a line deeply rooted in the national psyche. That is one of the scenarios the Second Amendment to the US Constitution – the right to bear arms – was designed to prevent.
The question now is: how far does Trump want to go?
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesIf you're ing us now, welcome - the latest protests planned in Los Angeles today are due to begin shortly, so before we turn our attention there, let's catch you up on what's happened so far today:
We'll bring you more on the key events in LA as they unfold.
Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent
Donald Trump just told reporters he thought it would be “great” if California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, were arrested for what he said was gross incompetence.
Those remarks represent a dramatic escalation in the growing feud between the president and the head of America’s largest state - who has at times been a sharp critic of the current istration.
Newsom quickly took to social media to respond, calling it an “unmistakable step toward authoritarianism”.
That exchange came after Trump border czar Tom Homan had warned that any state official that hinders federal immigration enforcement could face obstruction of justice charges. It was a threat Newsom dismissed.
“Arrest me,” he said. “Let’s get it over, tough guy.”
Since the Los Angeles protests began last week, Trump has attacked what he said is Newsom’s failure to adequately respond to the unrest. The California governor, for his part, has said Trump’s rhetoric – and his decision to nationalise 2,000 of the California National Guard – had only made the situation worse.
Newsom, a prominent Democrat with 2028 presidential aspirations, could serve as a useful foil for Trump, who is trying to characterise him as an out-of-touch liberal. Although the prospect of arrest is an obvious risk for Newsom, the clash also presents a political opportunity for a man who had angered some Democrats for his recent moves toward the political centre, allowing him to become a prominent face of opposition to Trump’s actions.
As both men may see a very public clash as politically beneficial, this is likely to be a taste of things to come.
Image source, ReutersGavin Newsom has responded after President Trump earlier said he would arrest the California governor over his opposition to the National Guard's deployment.
"The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting governor," Newsom says on X.
"This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism."
Earlier, we brought you those comments Trump made outside the White House.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is urging the federal government to change tact after President Trump deployed troops to California without the consent of California's governor.
"Please dial this back," she says in a CNN interview.
She said the immigration raids, which sparked the protests, were "a recipe for pandemonium that is completely unnecessary."
'They should be in jail', Trump says of LA protesters
President Donald Trump just spoke to reporters as he returned to the White House about the protests in Los Angeles.
"The people that are causing the problem are professional agitators," he said. "They are insurrectionists. They're bad people they should be in jail."
He was also asked about California Governor Gavin Newsom challenging Trump's border chief Tom Homan to arrest him.
Trump said "I would do it if I were Tom, I think it's great... He's done a terrible job."
Homan told Fox News earlier on Monday although "no one's above the law," there was no discussion about arresting Newsom.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 2,000 National Guard troops deployed by Donald Trump are not actually performing regular policing or conducting immigration raids at the Los Angeles protests.
Their role is to protect federal agents, including LA police officers, ICE and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel who are operating in the area.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday said the Pentagon is prepared to mobilise active-duty troops "if violence continues" in Los Angeles, adding the Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton are "on high alert".
Image source, ReutersWe can now bring you the latest comments from Donald Trump on the federal response to protests in Los Angeles.
"We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California," Trump writes on Truth Social. "If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated."
He says Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass had been ungrateful to him after both criticised him - stating the deployment was "unnecessary" and "inflamed" what had been small, localised protests.
"Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know," Trump adds. "We will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
As we reported a little earlier, Newsom says the state will be suing the Trump istration as he says the deployment of the National Guard is an "unconstitutional act".
Kris Bramwell
BBC News
Alex Castellon, 28, from Norwalk, California attended the Los Angeles protests on Sunday.
“As a first-generation Mexican-American, I felt a responsibility to show up and use my voice - not just for myself, but for the people who aren’t in a position to speak up," she tells the BBC.
“What stood out to me wasn’t just the size of the crowd, but the energy - there was this urgent, unified feeling among everyone there.
“It felt like more than a protest," she says. "It was a collective call to action, not just in LA, but across the country."
“What happened yesterday wasn’t just a reaction — it was a reflection of how many of us feel unheard and are ready to be part of shaping a better future.”
Regan Morris
Reporting from Los Angeles
Image source, Regan Morris/BBCAfter another night of clashes, downtown LA is a mess.
The streets are covered in debris - rubber bullet casings, broken bottles, rocks - and nearly every building is covered in graffiti against ICE - the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency - and against the LAPD.
Just after sunrise a man was already working to paint over a sign which read “ICE Kills Kids” spraying beige paint over a wall near LAPD headquarters.
Law enforcement officers from neighbouring counties and cities are deployed throughout the city - from Orange County to Santa Barbara County.
A handful of National Guard troops are still posted outside the Federal Building but they are not visibly out in force around downtown.