The Trump administration has deployed US Marines to Los Angeles and ramped up raids on suspected undocumented immigrants, sparking more protests and criticism from Democratic leaders and demonstrators.

About 700 Marines from Southern California are expected to arrive in Los Angeles to support federal operations against immigration raids, a key initiative of President Donald Trump's second term.

Despite objections from state and local leaders who did not request military assistance, the Marines are being used to protect federal personnel and property until a full contingent of 4,000 National Guard troops arrives in Los Angeles.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has vowed to conduct more operations to apprehend suspected immigration violators, escalating the crackdown that triggered the protests. The Trump administration has criticized the protests as unlawful and accused state and local Democrats of enabling disorder and shielding undocumented immigrants.

California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines, arguing that it violates federal law and state sovereignty.

The deployment of active-duty Marines has raised concerns among Democratic leaders, with Senator Jack Reed warning that the move could escalate tensions and turn a local issue into a national crisis.

Protests have continued for four consecutive days, with police dispersing demonstrators outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles. National Guard forces have been deployed to maintain order, while police have used crowd control measures to disperse protesters.

Although the use of military forces during civil disturbances is rare, Trump has the authority to deploy Marines under certain conditions without invoking the Insurrection Act.

The protests have spread to other cities across the US, including New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, with clashes between police and demonstrators reported in Austin, Texas.

Homeland Security has reported a significant increase in immigration-related arrests, with Secretary Noem emphasizing that enforcement efforts will intensify in response to protests and violence against law enforcement officers.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has criticized the crackdown, while Secretary Noem has defended the actions, describing the city as a haven for criminals rather than immigrants.