Trump Activates Military, National Guard for Immigration Protests Across US

President Donald Trump has escalated his administration's aggressive immigration enforcement by deploying the National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid protests against federal immigration sweeps. This move, which bypassed California Governor Gavin Newsom's objections, has been criticized as a politicization of the military and an abuse of power, intensifying tensions and sparking widespread demonstrations in multiple cities. The administration defends the deployment as necessary to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and maintain order, with officials emphasizing that National Guard troops support but do not directly enforce immigration laws. A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals a divided American public, with Republicans largely supporting the military response and Democrats strongly opposing it, reflecting deep partisan splits over immigration policy. Behind the scenes, the White House and Department of Homeland Security have been preparing for months to expand military involvement to bolster immigration arrests, which have recently increased but still fall short of administration goals. Alongside the military actions, the Trump administration has launched a visual media campaign showcasing arrests and military presence to underline its firm stance against resistance to mass deportations.