“400 Arrested in Los Angeles as Trump Deploys More Troops Than in Iraq, Syria”

Nearly 400 Arrested in Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Escalate; Troop Deployment Surpasses Iraq and Syria.

Los Angeles has witnessed escalating unrest over the past week, with nearly 400 people arrested amid widespread protests against federal immigration raids. Tensions rose further after President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city — a military presence larger than U.S. deployments in Iraq and Syria.

Despite the enforcement of a citywide night curfew, clashes between protesters and law enforcement have continued, especially near the federal buildings in downtown LA. According to the Associated Press, most arrests have been for curfew violations or failure to disperse, but some protestors face more serious charges, including assaulting police officers and possession of weapons like a Molotov cocktail and a firearm.

On Monday night, violence erupted at the Civic Center outside City Hall. Officers in riot gear, some mounted on horseback, charged into crowds, striking protesters with batons and using crowd-control munitions. One woman was seriously injured after being struck by a projectile, bleeding from the hip as bystanders called for medical aid.

The federal government has described the scale of the deployment as “unprecedented.” A White House spokesperson stated, “This is a necessary step to protect national security and restore order.” Critics, however, argue the move could raise serious constitutional concerns.

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for Thursday to review the legality and proportionality of the military deployment.