President Donald Trump has staunchly defended his decision to deploy Marines to Los Angeles, arguing the city “would be on fire” had federal troops not intervened to respond to protests sparked by his administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “There were certain areas of Los Angeles last night you could have called an insurrection… If we didn’t get involved, Los Angeles would be burning.” He also stated he would “certainly invoke” the Insurrection Act of 1807 if needed, a law that permits the president to deploy the U.S. military domestically to address civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion.
The remarks came as U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced heated questioning from lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding the legality and necessity of sending Marines to assist federal immigration agents in Los Angeles. Hegseth testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense as part of the Pentagon’s 2026 budget hearing but was pressed repeatedly about the controversial deployment.
Critics—including Democratic lawmakers and military veterans—have labeled the action an overreach of executive power. They argue that local law enforcement is capable of managing the protests and that using active-duty military personnel to enforce domestic law sets a dangerous precedent.
Hegseth defended the move, stating the Marines were sent to protect federal immigration officials and property in light of violent demonstrations triggered by recent ICE operations. “We have deployed National Guard and Marines to protect them [federal agents] in the execution of their duties,” he said. “We ought to be able to enforce immigration law in this country.”
He also pointed to a wave of undocumented immigration, saying “21 million illegals” had entered the country under the previous administration. While the administration frequently cites this figure, experts and independent analysts estimate the actual number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is closer to 7 to 9 million.
On Monday, the Trump administration formally announced the deployment of 700 Marines to Los Angeles despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has described the move as an “unprecedented usurpation of state authority.” Newsom filed a lawsuit against the federal government, asserting that the deployment bypassed the state’s consent and was unconstitutional.
Trump claimed he had called Governor Newsom to express his concerns about the situation, telling him to “do a better job.” However, Newsom refuted this in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “There was no call. Not even a voicemail.” He added that Americans should be alarmed by a president deploying Marines without even contacting state leadership.
The legal justification cited by the administration involves 10 U.S. Code § 12406, which permits the federalization of the National Guard in cases of invasion, rebellion, or an inability to enforce federal law using regular forces. Hegseth claimed all three conditions were met in Los Angeles, citing mass illegal immigration, assaults on law enforcement, and the presence of foreign flags during demonstrations.
When asked how long the Marine presence in Los Angeles would last, Hegseth responded, “Sixty days—because we want to ensure that those rioters, looters, and thugs know we’re not going anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Betty McCollum criticized the administration’s use of active-duty forces, saying there was “no need for the Marines to be deployed” and calling the move a “deeply unfair position” for service members. She emphasized that the unrest in Los Angeles was not comparable to the George Floyd protests of 2020 or the 1992 Rodney King riots.
As the debate continues, civil liberties groups and immigration advocates are monitoring the legal implications closely, while tensions in California remain high. The deployment highlights the deepening divide over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and the role of the U.S. military on domestic soil.
