US President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the deployment of Marine Corps troops to Los Angeles in response to unrest between protesters and security forces over immigration raids, a move called"insane" by the governor of California.

The extraordinary deployment of a total of 700 Marines is expected to further inflame tensions in the nation's second-largest city, which has a large Latino population. They join hundreds of National Guard troops already deployed in the area.

"The United States Marines have served honorably in multiple wars in defense of democracy," California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X.

"They shouldn't be deployed on American soil, confronting their own countrymen to fulfill the demented fantasy of a dictatorial president."

The official had already alleged that Trump "acted illegally by mobilizing the National Guard" without his authorization, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he will sue the president over his decision.

The deployment comes after protesters took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles, setting cars on fire and looting stores in incidents that prompted law enforcement to respond with tear gas and rubber bullets.

"Those causing the problems are professional agitators and insurrectionists," Trump told reporters in Washington.

On social media, he claimed that he had deployed National Guard troops"to address the violent riots" and that if he hadn't,"Los Angeles would have been completely destroyed."

He said the protesters spat at the troops and that if they continued to do so,"they will receive a harder blow than ever."

A small business owner whose property was graffitied supported the crackdown.

"I think it's necessary to stop the vandalism," he said, without giving his name.

Others were horrified.

"They're supposed to protect us, but instead, it's like they've been sent to attack us," said Kelly Diemer, 47.

"This is no longer a democracy."

"Go home"

This fourth day of protests in Los Angeles is driven by the recent arrest of dozens of people who, according to authorities, are illegal immigrants (sic) and gang members.

"Pigs go home!" protesters shouted at National Guard members outside a federal detention center.

Others hit the sides of unmarked vehicles as they crossed the police cordon.

A growing crowd gathered downtown, where officers from the Police Department formed barriers intended to separate protesters from federal agents.

The National Guard is frequently mobilized in cases of natural disasters and occasionally in civil unrest, but almost always with the consent of local authorities.

Trump's deployment of that force, the first by a state governor since 1965, was criticized by Democrats.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's rival in the 2024 election, called it" a dangerous escalation aimed at causing chaos."

What did Claudia Sheinbaum say?

Mayor Karen Bass told CNN that, contrary to Trump's claims,"it's not a citywide civil unrest."

At least 56 people have been arrested in two days and five officers have suffered minor injuries, Los Angeles police officials reported, while in San Francisco, about 60 protesters were arrested.

Tom Homan, Trump's immigration policy chief, said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was targeting cartel members from Mexico and Colombia. Many residents disagree when defending their neighbors.

Mexican authorities explained that about 40 Mexican citizens were arrested on Friday and Saturday during the aggressive ICE operations that sparked the protests.

President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned violence on Monday,"wherever it comes from," and reiterated her call to "US authorities to ensure that all immigration procedures" follow "due process" and respect "human dignity."