President Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to deploy National Guard troops against violent anti-ICE protestors in Los Angeles, with Marines at Camp Pendleton on high alert as Defense Secretary Hegseth warns rioters that attacks on federal agents will not be tolerated.
Key Takeaways
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has activated the National Guard in Los Angeles following violent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
- President Trump has invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, allowing military deployment for domestic law enforcement despite Posse Comitatus Act restrictions.
- U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton have been placed on high alert and could be deployed if violence escalates further.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson supports the federal intervention, citing Governor Gavin Newsom’s “inability or unwillingness” to maintain order.
- The administration has emphasized zero tolerance for attacks on federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement.
Federal Response to Los Angeles Unrest
The Trump administration has taken decisive action as violent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles spiraled out of control. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the mobilization of the National Guard after President Trump invoked the Insurrection Act, a rarely-used 1807 law that permits the deployment of military forces for domestic law enforcement. The move comes after days of escalating violence directed at federal agents attempting to carry out immigration enforcement operations in the city, with protestors directly challenging federal authority and threatening ICE personnel.
Hegseth has further warned that U.S. Marines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton are on high alert and ready to deploy if necessary. This extraordinary step underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting federal agents and restoring order in a situation where state and local authorities have been criticized for inadequate response. The Defense Secretary has made it clear that attacks on federal personnel will not be tolerated under President Trump’s watch, marking a significant escalation in the federal government’s approach to civil unrest surrounding immigration enforcement.
Congressional Support and Legal Authority
House Speaker Mike Johnson has strongly endorsed the administration’s actions, rejecting criticism that deploying military personnel to quell domestic unrest is excessive. Johnson pointed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s perceived failure to maintain order as justification for federal intervention. The deployment of National Guard troops and potential use of Marines represents a show of strength that Johnson believes will have a deterrent effect on further violence, aligning with the administration’s “peace through strength” philosophy applied to domestic affairs.
“I have no concern about that at all. I think the president did exactly what he needed to do. These are federal laws and we have to maintain the rule of law, and that is not what is happening. Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or an unwillingness to do what is necessary there, so the president stepped in. That’s real leadership, and he has the authority and the responsibility to do it,” Said Mike Johnson.
The legal foundation for this response rests on the Insurrection Act, which provides an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act’s general prohibition against using military forces for domestic law enforcement. This rare invocation allows the president to deploy troops when it becomes “impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States” through normal judicial proceedings. While President Trump had previously considered using this authority during the 2020 riots, this marks the first actual implementation of these emergency powers during his presidency.
Confrontation with State Leadership
The federal intervention has created sharp tensions with California’s leadership. Governor Gavin Newsom characterized Hegseth’s warnings about potential Marine deployment as “deranged behavior,” reflecting the deep political divide over immigration enforcement. Hegseth quickly countered this criticism, suggesting that allowing cities to burn and law enforcement to be attacked was the truly deranged position. This exchange highlights the fundamental disagreement between federal and California state authorities on appropriate responses to immigration protests.
“Deranged allowing your city to burn & law enforcement to be attacked. There is plenty of room for peaceful protest, but ZERO tolerance for attacking federal agents who are doing their job,” Said Pete Hegseth.
President Trump has previously threatened to take control of the California National Guard if state and local leaders failed to restore order. This federalization of National Guard troops explicitly aims to protect federal personnel and property, demonstrating the administration’s determination to enforce immigration laws despite local resistance. The situation represents a significant test of federal authority in states where leadership has been hesitant to cooperate with enhanced immigration enforcement efforts, establishing a precedent for federal action when state governments are perceived as obstructing federal law enforcement.
Military Forces on American Streets
National Guard troops have already arrived in Los Angeles, with armored vehicles and personnel in full tactical gear establishing positions near federal facilities that had been targeted by protesters. This visible military presence in an American city underscores the extraordinary nature of the current situation. Camp Pendleton Marines remain ready to deploy if the National Guard presence proves insufficient to restore order, representing an even more dramatic escalation that the administration has signaled it is prepared to implement.
The legal framework for this deployment specifically allows federal intervention when there is invasion, rebellion, or conditions that make it impossible to enforce U.S. laws. The Trump administration has determined that the violent opposition to ICE operations constitutes such a condition, justifying this exceptional measure. With federal agents previously prevented from carrying out lawful deportation orders by hostile crowds, the military deployment aims to ensure that immigration enforcement can proceed despite local opposition, reinforcing the primacy of federal immigration law over state and local resistance.
