Troops in LA can detain individuals, military official says, as protests spread
US troops in Los Angeles are authorised to detain people until police can arrest them, their commanding officer said on Wednesday, as hundreds of Marines prepared to move into a city rocked by protests over President Donald Trump's immigration raids.
On Wednesday, Los Angeles endured a sixth day of protests that have been largely peaceful but occasionally punctuated by violence. The protests have spread to other US cities and hundreds of nationwide demonstrations are planned for Saturday.
Trump's decision to dispatch troops to Los Angeles over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom has sparked a national debate about the use of the military on US soil. Newsom's administration has sued the US government to stop the deployment.
The Marines and National Guard could be deployed to protect federal personnel and property during immigration raids or related protests, officials have said.
Trump is carrying out a campaign promise to deport immigrants, employing forceful tactics consistent with the norm-breaking political style that got him elected twice. Democrats condemn these tactics as authoritarian, arguing they undermine democratic traditions. "If I didn't act quickly on that, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now," said Trump at an event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
US Army Major General Scott Sherman, who commands the deployed troops, told reporters that the 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops cannot make arrests but could briefly detain people. "They do not do any arrests. They're strictly there to detain to wait for law enforcement to come and handle those demonstrators," Sherman said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said he was asking military leaders for clarification on the matter. "My understanding at this point is that they do not have the powers to arrest or detain," Luna told a press conference.
The use of military forces is at the heart of California's lawsuit. The state maintains that none of the conditions were met to justify military deployment - such as a rebellion or danger thereof. It is also seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately stop the National Guard and Marines from participating in civilian law enforcement.
A hearing on that restraining order is scheduled for Thursday in San Francisco federal court.
The Trump administration argued in a court filing ahead of the hearing that the president has the discretion to determine whether a "rebellion or danger of a rebellion" requires a military response.
The Marines, who have been training at Seal Beach just south of Los Angeles County, will move to the city soon, but not on Wednesday, Sherman said. They will not carry live ammunition in their rifles, he added.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, joined at a press conference by about 30 other California mayors, said the White House has overstepped its authority and has provoked the unrest. Bass also imposed a curfew over 2.5 square kmof the city's downtown starting on Tuesday night following numerous incidents of looting and property damage.
The Los Angeles Police Department said it arrested 225 people on Tuesday, including 203 for failing to disperse and 17 for violating the curfew. In all, police have arrested more than 400 people since Friday. "President Trump promised to carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history and left-wing riots will not deter him in that effort," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Elsewhere, protesters marched in New York, Atlanta and Chicago on Tuesday night, chanting anti-ICE slogans and at times clashing with law enforcement.
The protests are set to expand on Saturday, when several activist groups have planned more than 1,800 anti-Trump demonstrations across the country. That day, tanks and other armored vehicles will rumble down the streets of Washington DC, in a military parade marking the US Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
An overview of Iran's energy industry and infrastructure
Israel carried out strikes on Iran on Friday, targeting its nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said refining facilities and oil storage did not sustain any damage in the attacks. Iran, the third largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, extracts about 3.3 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), or around 3% of global output. Following are some facts on the country's energy industry, exports and the impact of previous Western sanctions. SANCTIONS AND OPEC Iran's oil production was at its peak in the 1970s with record output of 6 million bpd in 1974, according to OPEC data. That amounted to over 10% of world output at the time. In 1979, the United States imposed the first wave of sanctions on Tehran and since then the country has been the target of several waves of U.S. and European Union sanctions. The United States tightened sanctions in 2018 after Trump exited a nuclear accord during his first presidential term. Iran's oil exports fell to nearly zero during some months. Exports rose steadily under Trump's successor President Joe Biden's administration with analysts saying sanctions were less rigorously enforced and Iran had succeeded in evading them. Iran is exempt from OPEC+ output restrictions. WHO IS THE MAIN BUYER OF IRANIAN OIL? Iran's crude exports have risen to a multi-year high of 1.8 million bpd in recent months, the highest since 2018, driven by strong Chinese demand. China says it does not recognise sanctions against its trade partners. The main buyers of Iranian oil are Chinese private refiners, some of whom have recently been placed on the U.S. Treasury sanctions list. There is little evidence, however, that this has impacted flows from Iran to China significantly. Iran has for years evaded sanctions through ship-to-ship transfers and hiding ships' satellite positions. PRODUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE FGE consultancy says Iran refines about 2.6 million bpd of crude and condensate and exports 2.6 million bpd of crude oil, condensate and refined products. The country also produces 34 billion cubic feet of gas per day, according to FGE, accounting for 7% of global production. All gas is consumed domestically. Iran's hydrocarbon production facilities are primarily concentrated in the southwest, in the Khuzestan province for oil and in the Bushehr provinces for gas and condensate from the giant South Pars field. It exports 90% of its crude via Kharg Island. Analysts say Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members could compensate for the drop of Iranian supply by using their spare capacity to pump more. Though with a number of producers in the group currently in the process of raising output targets, their spare capacity is becoming more strained. (Compiled by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Alex Lawler; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Sonali Paul)
Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
India Becomes Crucial Node in Apple's Tariff-Battling Export Strategy
Foxconn's latest customs data confirms that from 1 March to 31 May 2025, an overwhelming 97 per cent of all iPhones assembled in India were destined for the United States, totalling $3.2 billion in exports—nearly double the 50 per cent average seen throughout 2024. May alone accounted for almost $1 billion, the second‑highest monthly export value ever recorded—just behind March's $1.3 billion. This sharp shift reflects Apple's concerted effort to navigate escalating U.S. tariffs targeting Chinese exports, under a policy framework that now imposes 55 per cent duties on Chinese-made goods. India, by contrast, is subject to only a 10 per cent base tariff—with ongoing negotiations aimed at averting a proposed additional 26 per cent reciprocal levy. Apple's strategic manoeuvres go well beyond plant output figures. In March, it chartered aircraft to ship around $2 billion worth of iPhone models—including the 13, 14, 16 and 16e series—from Chennai to the U.S.. Concurrently, it has lobbied Indian customs officials to streamline clearance time at Chennai Airport from approximately 30 hours to just six. ADVERTISEMENT Tata Electronics—the smaller of Apple's Indian manufacturing partners—also ramped up its U.S.-bound export rate, shipping an average of 86 per cent of its March‑April output abroad, compared to just 52 per cent across 2024. Analysts at Counterpoint Research estimate that Apple's production capacity in India will contribute 25–30 per cent of global iPhone shipments by the end of 2025, up from 18 per cent in 2024. Industry insiders note that Tamil Nadu has become India's iPhone manufacturing epicentre, hosting some 70–80 per cent of domestic output through facilities run by Foxconn, Pegatron and Tata, and leverages major infrastructure investments to support scale‑up. The strategic pivot has not gone unnoticed in Washington. Donald Trump voiced disapproval in Doha, urging Apple to prioritise U.S.-based manufacturing over Indian operations. He cast the policy shift as unwelcome, stating he did 'not want you building in India' and emphasised domestic production, although analysts warn it would be economically unfeasible—potentially tripling iPhone prices—if Apple were to replicate its Chinese supply chain in the U.S.. Despite vocal criticism from Trump, India's government continues to cultivate its appeal as a high‑tech manufacturing hub under the 'China Plus One' model. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has facilitated green corridors and industrial investments, particularly in Tamil Nadu, aiming to amplify smartphone exports. The state's industrial minister and private‑sector leaders have pointed to India's growing workforce and operational readiness as key strengths. However, the pathway is not without hurdles. High duties on imported components continue to hinder cost efficiency, even as trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington seek to secure tariff relief. India remains more expensive than other manufacturing hubs unless concessions are secured. Still, the numbers speak convincingly. Foxconn's India exports hit $4.4 billion to U.S. shores in just the first five months of 2025—already exceeding the full‑year 2024 tally of $3.7 billion. Simultaneously, India's mobile‑electronics exports raced ahead, reaching approximately $12.8 billion in 2024, with iPhones now powering nearly 70 per cent of that figure. India's climb in Apple's supply chain mirrors broader geopolitical shifts—illustrating how trade pressure, tariff regimes and national strategies are reshaping global manufacturing. As Apple continues to amplify operations in India, the region is fast developing into a pivotal node in the technology economy—offering a compelling alternative to the long-established China corridor amidst deepening trade tensions.
Middle East Eye
5 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Court finds no legitimate basis to detain Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
US District judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey on Wednesday granted Palestinian activist - and Columbia University graduate student - Mahmoud Khalil's request for a preliminary injunction after concluding that he would continue to suffer irreparable harm if he remained detained. The decision comes after the court decided last week that Khalil was likely to succeed on the merits of his constitutional challenge to the government's detention and attempted deportation on foreign policy grounds. The court also ruled that it was unconstitutional to detain and seek to deport someone purely for their advocacy, in his case on behalf of Palestinian human rights. The government has until Friday morning to appeal the decision before Khalil must be released. The preliminary injunction blocks the Trump administration from using the provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act that Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked to detain and attempt to deport Mahmoud and other students and scholars for their speech in support of Palestinian rights. This is the first federal court to rule that Khalil and other noncitizens cannot be deported based solely on the so-called 'foreign policy ground' of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a blow to the Trump administration's attempt to suppress the speech of those who protest and speak out in support of Palestinian rights. On 8 March, the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security arrested and detained Khalil for his advocacy for Palestinian rights at Columbia University and transferred him 1,300 miles away to a Louisiana detention facility.
