NEW YORK/ ISTANBUL 

Protests in Los Angeles entered their 4th consecutive day on Tuesday after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented residents sparked widespread unrest.

President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 700 active-duty US Marines and an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to the city late Monday, escalating federal response to the demonstrations.

While US troops have been sent to disaster zones following events like Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11 attacks, their use in civil unrest remains rare.

California filed a lawsuit Monday against the federal government, calling the troop deployment “unlawful” and demanding the return of National Guard authority to Governor Gavin Newsom.

Border czar Tom Homan told CNN the Marine presence was necessary to maintain order. But both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized the move, with Bass saying the city was being “used as a testing ground” for federal control.

On Monday, tensions between Trump and Newsom deepened. After returning to the White House, Trump said he would arrest Newsom if he were “border czar” Homan — though Homan clarified that there had been “no discussion” on that.

Trump described Newsom as incompetent and added: “I think his primary crime is running for governor because he's done such a bad job.”

Newsom responded on X: “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor ... I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

“These are the acts of a dictator, not a President,” he added.

In a separate interview with NBC News, Homan said: “You can protest, you got your First Amendment rights, but when you cross that line” by attacking officers or damaging property, “that's a crime.” He warned the Trump administration would not tolerate such actions.

Trump doubled down on Truth Social, posting: “IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!”

Political responses were sharply divided.

Senator Chuck Schumer condemned the deployment as “outrageous, unnecessary, and dangerously provocative.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday: “Border security is economic security,” adding that violent riots had caused millions in damage. He said several autonomous vehicles worth about $97,000 each were torched “to the jeers of masked men waving foreign flags.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm: “We call on the Mexican community to act peacefully and not fall for provocations.”

The United Nations also expressed concern. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq urged all levels of US authority to cooperate and “de-escalate the situation,” warning against further militarization.