Recent demonstrations in Los Angeles have ignited a nationwide debate over the role of federal troops in domestic protest response. Multiple surveys reveal that U.S. citizens overwhelmingly oppose sending Marines and National Guard forces to quell protests tied to immigration enforcement operations.
In a YouGov poll released Tuesday, 47 percent of adults disapprove of deploying Marines to Los Angeles, while just 34 percent approve. Opposition to National Guard deployment runs similarly high, with 45 percent against and 38 percent in favor.
This attitude echoes longstanding public wariness: a June 2020 CNN/SSRS poll found that 60 percent of Americans deemed it inappropriate for the president to deploy military forces against protesters, a 24-point margin of opposition.
More recently, a March 2025 survey by the United States Democracy Center reported that 70 percent of U.S. citizens oppose using military force to stop protesters. This view crosses party lines, as majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents alike reject militarized intervention.
Americans also show a clear preference for local leadership in protest responses: 56 percent say state and local authorities should take charge, compared with only 25 percent supporting federal intervention.
Opinion on the protests themselves is mixed. YouGov data indicates that 36 percent of U.S. adults approve of the demonstrations targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while 45 percent disapprove—underscoring that many distinguish between opposing protests and opposing military responses.
Voters in California, where federal immigration raids began on June 7, demonstrate strong resistance to aggressive enforcement. An Emerson College poll in April found 60 percent consider mass deportations harmful to the state's interests. Likewise, a January survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows 63 percent of residents favor crafting immigration policy at the state and local level, rather than following federal mandates.
As debates over immigration and public safety continue, these surveys highlight the enduring American tradition of preferring civilian control and local solutions over militarized action on home soil.
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U.S. citizens reject troops deployment against LA protesters: surveys
cgtn.com
