LA tension escalates: Trump to deploy another 2,000 National Guard members

Meanwhile, Trump is threatening to send additional troops to the city to quell the protest, which sparked off over the weekend.

U.S. Northern Command said it has activated the Marine infantry battalion that was placed in an alert status over the weekend.

"Approximately 700 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will seamlessly integrate with the Title 10 forces under Task Force 51 who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area," U.S. Northern Command said in a statement.

1,700 National Guard troops are currently operating in Los Angeles

U.S. Northern Command said till June 9 there are approximately 1700 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a California National Guard unit in a Title 10 status, in the greater Los Angeles Area.

"The activation of the Marines 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," the Command said.

Task Force 51 is comprised of approximately 2,100 National Guard soldiers in a Title 10 status and 700 active-duty Marines.

Task Force 51 forces have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and standing rules for the use of force.

President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Defense to deploy an additional 2,000 California National Guard members to Los Angeles amid escalating tension in the city.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed on X: "At the order of the President, the Department of Defense is mobilizing an additional 2,000 California National Guard to be called into federal service to support ICE & to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties."

After LA, similar protests have been reported from other US cities, including Louisville, Kentucky, and in Dallas.

Gavin Newsom slams Donald Trump

Slamming Trump, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X, "Chaos is exactly what Trump wanted, and now California is left to clean up the mess."

LA Mayor Karen Bass criticised Trump for his action and wrote on X: "Don’t buy into Trump’s chaos. Rise to the moment."

"This is about protecting our immigrant communities, not destruction of our city," she said.

President Trump will not back down: Vance

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance warned that Trump will not back down and wrote on X: "We will stand by the FBI agents tracking down violent criminals, by the guardsmen, local police, and Marines restoring order, and by the ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws."