California has escalated its legal challenge against former President Donald Trump, filing a lawsuit over his deployment of federal forces—National Guard and U.S. Marines—to Los Angeles. What began as local protests against aggressive ICE raids has morphed into a national constitutional showdown, with both sides claiming constitutional authority and public safety. On Friday, June 6, large-scale ICE operations in greater Los Angeles triggered widespread outrage. Hundreds of arrests were reported, including union leader David Huerta, galvanizing rallies across the city for several days.

Demonstrations ranged from peaceful vigils to intense confrontations involving tear gas, rubber bullets, and thrown projectiles. In response, President Trump invoked federal authority—under Title 10 and the Insurrection Act—to bring in more than 4,100 National Guard members plus 700 U.S. Marines, framing the intervention as vital to protect immigration personnel and federal property. Local officials and legal experts warn this marks “the first time since the civil‑rights era” that federal forces have been deployed to a state over a governor’s objections.

Governor Gavin Newsom called the move reckless and unconstitutional, refusing to consent. “There is no invasion. There is no rebellion,” Attorney General Rob Bonta stated, accusing Trump of manufacturing a crisis to overstep state sovereignty. The state’s lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the deployment, asserting that the legal threshold for federalizing the National Guard hasn’t been met. Protests have persisted in LA’s downtown and expanded to other cities, including San Francisco, where thousands marched peacefully—though some vandalism led to police intervention.

In LA, police and Guard personnel used tear gas and other measures to disperse crowds; over 600 rubber bullets were fired and dozens arrested, including for attempted assault with Molotov cocktails. Mayor Karen Bass criticized the federal military presence as inflammatory, an experiment the city never asked for. Trump warned protesters against confrontation—“we will hit harder than ever”—and even suggested arresting Newsom if he obstructs federal enforcement. In turn, Newsom responded defiantly, daring federal authorities: “Come after me, arrest me.”

Analysts say the crises pits national political theatrics against California’s push for state autonomy. The constitutional battle is set for the courts, focused on whether Trump properly invoked federal authority. Meanwhile, protests remain active in LA and urban California. For many activists, the federal response reinforces fears about intensified immigration crackdowns and civil‑military overreach. With no end in sight, this clash continues to reshape the boundaries between federal enforcement and state rights.