Kochi: The US has deployed over 4,100 National Guards to counter protests held against immigration raids in Los Angeles, even as California Governor Gavin Newsom has moved the court against it, BBC reported.
Earlier, President Donald Trump had given nod to deploy 2,000 National Guard members to respond to the protests.
Seven hundred Marines were also put on duty to crush protests against immigration raids.
Demonstrations began after Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids across the city on Friday.
The US normally does not resort to using military troops in domestic law enforcement.
Monday was the fourth straight day of protests in Downtown, Los Angeles, when demonstrators gathered outside a federal detention centre holding immigrants.
Police reportedly used flash bangs and rubber bullets to disperse protesters who shouted “Pigs go home!”.
Trump said on Monday he had no choice but to order the deployment to prevent violence from spiralling out of control.
The Trump administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to participate directly in civilian law enforcement.
US Marines were deployed for disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the September 11, 2001.
Federal law allows the president to deploy the National Guard if the nation is invaded, if there is “rebellion or danger of rebellion,” or if the president is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
Tensions have been rising since Trump activated the National Guard on Saturday after street protests erupted in response to immigration raids in Southern California.
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