A rarely used federal statute has reemerged as the U.S. faces a growing constitutional crisis following violent unrest in Los Angeles. The crisis began after ICE conducted large-scale immigration raids in Latino neighborhoods, prompting protests that escalated into looting, arson, and mass arrests.
President Donald Trump, recently returned to office, responded by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops on June 7, bypassing state authority and criticizing local officials via Truth Social. California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the move, calling the deployment unlawful and blaming Trump for inflaming tensions.
As the situation worsened, Trump doubled troop numbers and authorized the deployment of 700 Marines—raising legal questions under the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
The federal response marks a significant escalation and tests the limits of presidential power, state-federal cooperation, and the role of the military in managing domestic unrest. Legal observers are watching closely to see if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act next.