Constitutional Crisis Erupts as Marines Deployed to Los Angeles; California Files Federal Lawsuit to Block Troops
LOS ANGELES – A constitutional showdown between the state of California and the federal government has intensified dramatically, as the Trump administration ordered approximately 700 U.S. Marines to deploy to Los Angeles amid ongoing protests. The move was met with immediate legal action from California’s Attorney General, who filed a lawsuit to block the military presence. Compounding the crisis, prominent union leader David Huerta, who was arrested during the protests, has been formally charged with a federal felony, turning his case into a national rallying cry for opponents of the administration’s policies.
The deployment of active-duty combat troops marks a significant escalation in the federal response to demonstrations against ICE raids in the city. This multi-front battle now pits federal authority against state sovereignty, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal and political confrontation with major implications for presidential power and the role of the military in domestic affairs.
Federal Troops on the Ground
The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that about 700 U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, based in Twentynine Palms, are being deployed to the city. According to a statement from U.S. Northern Command, the activation is intended to provide “Task Force 51 with adequate numbers of forces to provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency”. These active-duty forces will join up to 2,000 National Guard soldiers, bringing the potential total military presence to nearly 3,000.
The use of an active-duty infantry unit for a domestic security role is exceptionally rare and represents a step beyond the use of the National Guard, which has a dual state and federal function. The administration has justified the deployment of Marines as necessary to protect federal agents and property from what it has characterized as “lawlessness”.
A contingent of approximately 700 U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, was ordered to Los Angeles on Monday.California’s Legal Challenge
In a direct countermove, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday the filing of a lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Department of Defense, seeking an immediate restraining order to halt the deployments. The lawsuit argues that the president has acted unlawfully by deploying troops and federalizing the state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent, a move they contend violates 10 U.S.C. § 12406.
The state government has presented a unified front in its opposition. “Every governor, red or blue, should reject this outrageous overreach,” Bonta stated at a press conference. “It is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. We will not let this stand”. Governor Gavin Newsom echoed these sentiments, condemning the decision to deploy Marines as “deranged” and the action of a “dictatorial” president.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against the administration, calling the military deployment "an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism."Union Leader Becomes National Symbol
Adding a volatile new dimension to the conflict, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles filed a criminal complaint against David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California. Huerta now faces a felony charge of conspiracy to impede an officer, which carries a potential prison sentence of six years. The complaint alleges he sat in front of a gate to an ICE staging area and encouraged others to block federal vehicles.
Huerta was released on a $50,000 bond on Monday afternoon, but his prosecution has galvanized the labor movement. Thousands of supporters rallied in Grand Park, Los Angeles, and solidarity protests have been reported nationwide, including in Washington D.C.. Labor unions and civil liberties groups view the prosecution as a direct attack on the right to protest, while the administration frames it as a standard law-and-order action.
Supporters rally for SEIU President David Huerta in Los Angeles after federal charges were filed against him.A City on Edge
With active-duty Marines deployed to Los Angeles, the city remains on high alert. The developing situation now poses fundamental questions about the separation of powers, the principles of federalism, and the line between protest and federal crime. The legal battle is expected to proceed rapidly through the courts, setting a major constitutional precedent for the nation.
