United States President Donald Trump vows to keep troops in Los Angeles as protests enter their fifth day.
Protests oppose U.S. immigration enforcement. In response the Trump administration ordered 700 additional U.S. marines into LA and intensified raids on suspected undocumented migrants.
The deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and Marines is estimated to cost US$134 million according to a Pentagon official.
Trump has taken to Truth Social to defend the troop deployment.
“If I didn’t “SEND IN THE TROOPS” to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now, much like 25,000 houses burned to the ground in L.A,” he posted.
In response to the Trump administration's decision, California Governor Gavin Newsom asked a federal judge to block the deployment of National Guard members and Marines.
“The federal government is now turning the military against American citizens,” Newsom said in a statement.
“Sending trained warfighters onto the streets is unprecedented and threatens the very core of our democracy. Donald Trump is behaving like a tyrant, not a President.
“We ask the court to immediately block these unlawful actions.”
The lawsuit claims Trump broke the law when he federalised the California National Guard over the weekend without Newsom’s consent or input.
