Los Angeles is being overwhelmed by a new wave of militarization. The Department of Defense has confirmed the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard soldiers, bringing the total number of troops stationed in the city to over 6,800. The initiative is part of a sweeping campaign aimed at countering the protests that have gripped the “City of Angels” for weeks, triggered by a series of immigration raids.
The decision has reignited the debate between those who see the military presence as a necessary support and those who denounce it as a dangerous escalation especially in a city that stands as a symbol of American diversity.
U.S. Northern Command explained that the soldiers have been activated under Title 10, a section of the United States legal code that governs the use of federal armed forces, including the National Guard when internal security threats arise. This is the same legal basis President Trump previously invoked to justify the initial deployment in response to unrest that had spread through the urban center. According to an official statement, the troops are tasked with ensuring the protection of federal operations, personnel, and property in the metropolitan area.
The new soldiers will join approximately 2,100 National Guard members and 700 Marines already active, all of whom are engaged in training focused on crowd control. However, local authorities have not hesitated to harshly criticize the Pentagon’s decision, emphasizing how this strategy diverts crucial resources away from emergencies such as wildfires and, rather than calming tensions, may further inflame the situation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the move a “political cleanup,” lamenting that troops had been pulled away from vital duties to be used in what he described as a “political theater” orchestrated by the Republican administration. Newsom has also filed a legal challenge against the federal government, accusing it of taking control of the California National Guard without proper authorization, an act he labeled a true “power grab.”
Last week, a district judge temporarily blocked the deployment, but an appeals court quickly overturned that ruling. Now, a panel of judges from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is considering whether President Trump exceeded his authority by invoking Title 10.
