Trump’s use of military sparks national outcry amid immigration crackdown
LOS ANGELES: As protests continue to escalate across the United States, several cities braced for renewed demonstrations on Wednesday, following President Donald Trump’s aggressive deployment of military forces in response to unrest. Parts of Los Angeles were placed under curfew overnight after five consecutive days of protests and sporadic violence.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, announced plans to deploy the National Guard in anticipation of further protests in his state. In Austin, tensions boiled over earlier this week as demonstrators and police clashed on Monday.
President Trump’s decision to send both the National Guard and U.S. Marines into Los Angeles has triggered widespread debate about the use of military force on domestic soil. The move has intensified political divisions, drawing sharp criticism from California’s Democratic leadership.
In a strongly worded video statement, California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the president’s actions: “This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers, and even our National Guard at risk. That’s when the downward spiral began. He chose escalation over de-escalation. He chose theatrics over public safety.”
Newsom, considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Department of Defense on Monday, seeking to block the federal troop deployment. Trump responded by suggesting Newsom should face criminal charges.
On Tuesday, hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived in Los Angeles following Trump’s orders, joining the 4,000 National Guard troops already deployed. Officials stated that these forces are tasked with protecting federal personnel and infrastructure, not engaging in crowd control.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass pushed back against the need for military involvement, emphasizing that local law enforcement could manage the demonstrations, which she described as largely peaceful and concentrated in a small downtown area. However, citing incidents of looting and overnight violence, Bass imposed a curfew covering approximately one square mile of central Los Angeles beginning Tuesday night. The curfew is expected to remain in effect for several days.
Despite the curfew, police reported that several groups remained on the streets after hours, prompting what authorities described as “mass arrests.” Law enforcement officials said 197 people were taken into custody on Tuesday alone—more than double the number arrested in previous days combined.
Democratic leaders nationwide have voiced concern over what they describe as a mounting constitutional crisis. They argue that the administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants—combined with the militarized response to public protests—represents an alarming shift in federal power.
President Trump, who won re-election last year largely on a platform of immigration enforcement, defended his actions during a speech to military personnel at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. “Generations of American heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness,” he said.
As tensions rise, questions about the limits of presidential authority, civil liberties, and the role of the military in domestic affairs are now at the forefront of the national debate.
