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Los Angeles: A showdown is brewing in Southern California, where a military buildup outside Los Angeles has brought national scrutiny and sharp legal debate. At the center of it all: a secretive request by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging the Pentagon to allow Marines to detain civilian protesters, a move legal scholars say flirts with outright illegality.
The White House, meanwhile, is keeping its distance.
Troops on Standby, Questions in the Air
In the past week, the Trump administration moved thousands of National Guard troops under federal control into the LA metro area. Soon after, roughly 700 Marines were quietly deployed from Twentynine Palms, stationed in staging zones near downtown, according to Defense Department officials.
They’re visible but silent—no direct engagement with crowds yet. Still, their presence alone has upended the city’s already tense atmosphere.
At a Wednesday press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt avoided discussing Noem’s letter, instead emphasizing that President Donald Trump had acted “within legal authority” under Title 10 of the U.S. Code to federalize the Guard. “They’re supporting law enforcement,” she said. “And helping stabilize ICE and Border Patrol operations.”
But Noem’s proposal goes well beyond logistics.
DHS Memo Spurs Legal Alarm
Over the weekend, Noem sent a memo to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking that U.S. troops be permitted to arrest or detain civilians involved in protests—an idea that has stunned constitutional law experts. The memo, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, frames the request as comparable to military policing on federal bases.
But outside military zones, it’s a legal minefield.
“You can’t just have Marines grabbing people off the streets. That’s not how our system works,” said William Banks, a national security law scholar at Syracuse University. “Without the Insurrection Act, this would violate the Posse Comitatus Act—full stop.”
The Insurrection Act, last invoked during the 1992 LA riots, allows the President to use military force to suppress civil disorder. But Trump hasn’t invoked it—yet.
So far, Pentagon sources say no arrests have been made by active-duty troops. But the legal line is thin, and the stakes are high.
State Officials Push Back Hard
The response from California’s top leaders has been swift—and angry.
Governor Gavin Newsom has filed for an emergency federal injunction, calling the military presence “an unauthorized occupation” and accusing DHS of “militarizing a political crisis.” In a televised statement, he said, “We’re not a war zone. We’re a state with laws—and rights.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the criticism, warning the deployment could inflame tensions further. “We’ve dealt with unrest before,” she said. “What we don’t need is boots on sidewalks and rifles at rallies.”
City attorneys have launched a separate legal challenge aiming to block military involvement in protest-related arrests. Their argument: policing civilians is a job for trained law enforcement—not uniformed soldiers.
Protesters, Journalists, and a Growing List of Injuries
Since protests reignited on June 6—following a series of ICE raids in the San Gabriel Valley—over 250 people have been arrested, according to LAPD officials. Most charges relate to curfew violations or obstructing traffic. But observers say the police response has been increasingly aggressive.
Civil rights groups have documented the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and pepper spray—even in areas where crowds were reportedly peaceful. Several journalists have been injured while covering the protests, including a foreign correspondent from Australia, who was hit with a projectile live on air.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident “deeply disturbing” and demanded accountability. Press advocacy groups say at least 12 journalists have been detained or injured in the last 72 hours across the city.
“This isn’t about crowd control,” said Ayesha Khan, a legal observer with the Southern California ACLU. “This is about shutting down dissent.”
“No Kings” Protests Go National
Meanwhile, the energy on the streets shows no sign of fading. A coordinated day of action, dubbed the “No Kings National Mobilization,” is set for June 14, timed to counter a planned military parade in Washington, D.C.
Organizers in LA say they expect tens of thousands to march. Similar protests are planned in Chicago, Seattle, and New York. Advocacy networks such as SEIU, immigrant defense collectives, and local churches are mobilizing buses and volunteers.
“This isn’t just about immigration,” said Clara Martinez, an organizer in Boyle Heights. “It’s about unchecked power—military, executive, all of it.”
Foreign Governments Monitoring Closely
Internationally, the situation is drawing growing attention. The Mexican foreign ministry confirmed that 35 of its nationals have been detained in Los Angeles during protests. Indonesia says two of its citizens are in custody and is offering consular support.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in a morning briefing, “Those detained are not criminals. We expect their rights to be upheld.”
Legal Tensions Headed to Court
A federal court in San Francisco is set to hear arguments Thursday on whether Noem’s request—and the ongoing military deployment—violates the Constitution. Depending on the ruling, it could set a precedent for the role of U.S. forces in domestic crises.
Legal experts say the hearing could hinge on whether the federal government can justify troop presence without declaring an insurrection or receiving explicit congressional approval.
Back on the streets of LA, the presence of troops remains a heavy, silent backdrop. Stores are reopening, but curfews persist. And the air, hot and buzzing with helicopters, feels like a city on the edge.
“I see the Humvees,” said Luis Delgado, a mechanic in Echo Park. “I see the uniforms. I don’t see peace. Not yet.”
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