Cities across the United States are on high alert as protests escalate in response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown. In Los Angeles, the tension reached a new level with parts of the city placed under curfew following five straight days of unrest.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the National Guard would be deployed statewide ahead of planned demonstrations, with early signs of confrontation already visible in Austin, where police clashed with protesters. Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to send both National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles has triggered legal and political backlash, particularly from California’s Democratic leadership.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump’s response, calling it an overreach of power that has only worsened the situation. He accused the president of prioritizing theatrics over public safety and filed a lawsuit against the federal government to block the deployment of military personnel. Trump, in turn, fired back, suggesting that Newsom should be arrested.
Despite objections, around 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops have been stationed around Los Angeles. Their official role is to protect government facilities and personnel, not to engage in direct law enforcement. But local officials remain uneasy. Mayor Karen Bass insisted that the situation is under control and that most protests have been peaceful, confined to a small area of downtown. Still, she imposed a curfew in response to nighttime looting and violence.
Police made nearly 200 arrests on Tuesday, more than doubling the arrest count since protests began. Officers reported that groups continued to gather past curfew hours, prompting further crackdowns.
Across the nation, similar scenes are unfolding. In cities like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, demonstrators rallied against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), chanting calls to abolish the agency and challenging officers face-to-face. In Chicago’s Daley Plaza, protesters climbed public structures and waved flags of other nations in solidarity with undocumented migrants.
Trump, speaking at an Army base in North Carolina, defended his administration’s actions. He claimed that what’s happening in California is a “full-blown assault” on national sovereignty. He also vowed to “liberate Los Angeles,” accusing protestors of promoting lawlessness.
According to Homeland Security, ICE has recently ramped up its activity, averaging 2,000 arrests per day, compared to 311 daily arrests under former President Biden in 2024.
Legal experts and California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta have raised concerns about military involvement in domestic law enforcement. Bonta warned that allowing troops to accompany ICE could violate the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
On social media, ICE confirmed that National Guard troops have already started accompanying officers during raids, signaling an intensification of federal immigration enforcement.
Anti-ICE rallies are expected to continue through the week in Texas and other states, keeping law enforcement and military units on high alert. The last time the U.S. military played such a role in domestic unrest was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. This time, however, the military’s involvement is being contested at the highest levels.
By Lucky Anyanje