Noem Requests Military Arrests of LA Protesters Amid Federal Troop Deployment

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy U.S. military forces, including Marines, to arrest protesters in Los Angeles opposing the Trump administration's anti-immigrant raids. Noem's letter accused some demonstrators of ties to foreign terrorist organizations and described the protests as violent and insurrectionist, though these claims have not been publicly supported by White House or DHS officials. The Los Angeles Police Department and local officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, opposed military involvement, asserting that local law enforcement could handle the demonstrations. Following the leak of Noem's letter, the administration first defended her position but then reversed course, emphasizing that the posture of the troops had not changed and denying that active-duty military would perform arrests. Legal experts note that U.S. troops lack constitutional authority to make arrests, though they may detain individuals until police arrive if witnessing a crime. President Trump has increased federal troop deployments and National Guard presence in Los Angeles to support law enforcement but has not explicitly authorized military arrests of protesters.