Los Angeles shook off summer calm this week as immigration protestors took to the streets, sparking a heated debate over the presence of U.S. troops on home soil. President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops has drawn attention from both federal authorities and California leaders.
U.S. Army Major General Scott Sherman, commander of the operation, told reporters the deployed troops cannot make arrests but are empowered to detain individuals temporarily until local police can take custody. This limited detention authority is meant to help protect federal personnel and property during nationwide protests scheduled for Saturday.
At the heart of the debate is the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which bars the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement. California Attorney General Rob Bonta warns that military accompaniment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could violate this longstanding federal statute.
Governor Gavin Newsom has sued to block the deployment, arguing that sending troops to patrol American streets oversteps constitutional lines. Newsom’s challenge highlights a broader national conversation on civil-military relations and the balance between public order and individual rights.
So far, about 1,000 troops have supported operations around federal buildings, safeguarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during raids. National Guard members have stood guard outside migrant detention centers, while Marines monitored protest zones without live ammunition in their rifles.
The Los Angeles Police Department reports 225 arrests since protests began, most for failing to disperse or curfew violations. Despite a few looting incidents downtown, demonstrations have been largely peaceful and confined to a handful of streets in the city’s core.
As the weekend’s nationwide demonstrations approach, questions linger: Can this temporary detainment strategy keep the peace without eroding civil liberties? For young global citizens, tech entrepreneurs, and changemakers alike, the unfolding events in Los Angeles offer a real-time case study in how democracies navigate security, protest, and rights under pressure.
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Troops in LA can detain individuals, official says, as protests spread
cgtn.com
