Anti-Migrant Policy Protests Sweep U.S. Cities Amidst Arrests and Military Deployments
Widespread Demonstrations Against Trump Administration Policies Lead to Hundreds of Arrests and Spark Legal Challenges Over Militarization.
by Ari Steinwelder 10 June 2025
Protests against the Trump administration’s migrant policies and enforcement raids are escalating across several U.S. cities, extending beyond initial hotspots like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Demonstrations have also been reported in Atlanta, Seattle, Dallas, Louisville, and New York, where police have arrested an unspecified number of individuals. In San Francisco, authorities confirmed at least 150 arrests in connection with these protests.
In Los Angeles, hundreds of individuals gathered peacefully in front of the Federal Building, a significant downtown structure housing various government agencies. These demonstrators, carrying both American and Mexican flags, were met by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) police in riot gear and soldiers from the National Guard. The protests reflect growing public opposition to the administration’s stance on immigration.
The White House has responded to the demonstrations, particularly in Los Angeles, by mobilizing a contingent of 700 Marines. These troops were deployed to reinforce the California National Guard, which President Trump had activated over the weekend without the consent of either the state governor or the city mayor. According to the U.S. Northern Command, the Marines are slated to remain in Los Angeles until additional National Guard troops arrive. This deployment raises concerns among some American civilian officials, who anonymously cited the risk of President Trump invoking the Insurrection Act, a measure that could permit military forces to directly engage in civilian policing activities.
In response to what he termed the “militarization” of the territory, California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly threatened legal action. Governor Newsom, a Democrat, articulated his stance on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that a fundamental principle of the nation is governance by civil, not military, authority. He emphasized that the Founding Fathers enshrined these principles in the Constitution, mandating a government accountable to its people, guided by the rule of law and civilian leadership. Governor Newsom affirmed that California is prepared to defend these constitutional principles in court.
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