Los Angeles is in crisis. What began as peaceful protests in Latino neighborhoods escalated into riots, looting, and clashes with law enforcement after a surge in ICE raids. The city now finds itself under a military presence, with over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines deployed at former President Donald Trump’s direction.
Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, a rarely used law that allows presidents to deploy active-duty military on U.S. soil. Historically, it’s been used sparingly — most notably during the 1992 LA riots and the Civil Rights Movement — making this move deeply controversial.
Trump claimed the unrest was a “foreign invasion” and vowed it would not be tolerated. California Governor Gavin Newsom fired back, calling the deployment illegal and accusing Trump of using the crisis for political theater. “This isn’t about peace,” Newsom said. “It’s about power.”
Now, tensions are spreading nationwide. With troops guarding ICE agents during raids, protests have erupted in cities from New York to Austin. The country stands at a tipping point — caught between fear, frustration, and the fight over who controls America’s streets.