California to sue feds over National Guard deployment, Trump sends Marines
Federal officials deployed hundreds of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles Monday as California announced it will sue the Trump administration over the deployment of National Guard troops to anti-ICE protests sparked by wide-ranging immigration raids in Southern California.
Between 500 and 700 Marines stationed at Twentynine Palms were mobilized to join the 2,000 National Guard members already tasked by President Donald Trump over the weekend to assist with the civil unrest, news agencies including CNN and ABC reported, citing federal officials. The Marines were expected to arrive within 24 hours.
The deployment followed two days of large-scale protests in Los Angeles, in which the city saw numerous clashes between demonstrators and police, as well as numerous acts of vandalism and arson. The protests, sparked by large-scale ICE raids in the region that began on Friday, had resulted in more than 40 arrests as of Monday, officials said.
Numerous Waymo self-driving taxis were set ablaze amid the protests on Sunday, while numerous law enforcement vehicles were damaged. Protestors blocked the 101 Freeway for several hours.
Waymo suspended service in downtown Los Angeles and "will not be serving any rides in the protest area until it is deemed safe," a company representative told NBC News.
California to sue Trump administration over National Guard deployment
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced they planned to sue the Trump administration for what they called the illegal federalization and deployment of National Guard troops for 60 days in response to the demonstrations, against the will of the governor.
"In total, the Department intends to deploy 2,000 troops from across the state, an inflammatory escalation unsupported by conditions on the ground," according to a statement issued by Bonta's office. "In a lawsuit being filed today, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom will ask the court to hold unlawful and set aside the President’s order federalizing the National Guard by way of a rarely used law, arguing that such action exceeds the federal government’s authority under the law and violates the Tenth Amendment."
Bonta said the deployment of National Guard troops into L.A. was "unnecessary and counterproductive."
"It’s also deeply unfair to the members of the National Guard who are hard at work every day protecting our state, preparing for and responding to emergencies, and training so that, if called, they can fight our nation’s wars," he said. "Let me be clear: There is no invasion. There is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends. Federalizing the California National Guard is an abuse of the President’s authority under the law – and not one we take lightly. We’re asking a court to put a stop to the unlawful, unprecedented order."
Newsom accused the President of "creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority."
"This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic," he said. "Every governor, red or blue, should reject this outrageous overreach. This is beyond incompetence — this is him intentionally causing chaos, terrorizing communities, and endangering the principles of our great democracy. It is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. We will not let this stand."
Newsom and Bonta both urged those who protest to remain peaceful.
Trump threatens arrest of Gov. Newsom: 'I would do it … I think it would be a great thing.'
Amid a mounting legal clash between the federal government and the state of California, President Donald Trump suggested his border czar Tom Homan should arrest Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“I would do it … I think it would be a great thing,” Trump said June 9 when asked if Homan should arrest the governor, who has challenged the administration’s mobilization of National Guard troops to crack down on violent protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. The president also attacked Newsom as "grossly incompetent."
Newsom fired back via social media, responding, "The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America."
The comments from Trump came a day after Newsom balked at previous mentions by Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, about arresting local leaders who interfere with the ICE operations.
"He knows where to find me,” Newsom told NBC in an interview. “That kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let's go."
Charge against arrested labor organizer announced
The arrest of Service Employees International Union California and SEIU-United Service Workers West David Huerta, 58, amid a protest in downtown L.A. on Friday drew criticism from many protestors and California officials. Officials alleged he was interfering with ICE activities.
Federal prosecutors filed a charge of conspiracy to impede an officer, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The charge carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison.
He was released from federal custody on a $50,000 bond following an initial appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, prosecutors said. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for July 7.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., authored a joint letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Trump administration officials demanding explanation and accountability.
"Mr. Huerta was injured, arrested, and detained by federal officials in Downtown Los Angeles while exercising his lawful right to observe the conduct of immigration enforcement personnel on Friday, June 6, 2025," according to a statement issued by Padilla's office.
"It is deeply troubling that a U.S. citizen, union leader, and upstanding member of the Los Angeles community continues to be detained by the federal government for exercising his rights to observe immigration enforcement, the senators wrote.
"As U.S. Senators, we are privileged and proud to represent Americans like Mr. Huerta, who are pillars of their community and stand up for the fundamental rights of all Californians," it continued. "We have a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice and its components to ensure that the rights of Californians are upheld. As such, we demand a complete and comprehensive response to the following requests regarding this incident by Friday, June 13, 2025."