The White House has vowed that US President Donald Trump would not permit "mob rule" after protests against his immigration policies spread despite a military-backed crackdown in Los Angeles.
"President Trump will never allow mob rule to prevail in America," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing.
"The most basic duty of government is to preserve law and order, and this administration embraces that sacred responsibility," she added.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that the deployment of thousands of troops to Los Angeles was about maintaining law and order as federal agents do their job.
"The mission in Los Angeles ... it is about maintaining law and order on behalf of law enforcement agents, who deserve to do their job without being attacked by mobs of people," Mr Hegseth told politicians during a US Senate hearing.
Mr Hegseth also claimed the deployment of the 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines was lawful and constitutional.
Democratic politicians have sought answers from Mr Hegseth about the deployments, and raised concerns about sending active-duty US troops to a mission they said would be better carried out by law enforcement officers.
It comes as Los Angeles police said that "mass arrests" were under way as people gathered on downtown streets after an overnight curfew went into effect following days of protests against immigration arrests.
Multiple groups continue to congregate on 1st St between Spring and Alameda.
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 11, 2025
Those groups are being addressed and mass arrests are being initiated.
Curfew is in effect.
The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, senator Jack Reed said the tasks being carried out by troops were meant for law enforcement agencies.
"Law and order is a civil function under the constitution of the United States, civil enforcement, law enforcement authorities - not the US military," Mr Reed said.
The Pentagon has said the deployment will cost $134 million (€117m), including travel, housing and food for troops.
The military has a long history of deployments within the United States.
National Guard and active-duty troops are deployed for natural disasters and other events, including helping set up temporary hospitals during the pandemic.
During the 2020 wave of nationwide protests over racial injustice, more than 17,000 National Guard troops were activated by 23 states.
What is rare, however, is sending active-duty troops during times of civil disturbance.
Marines are trained for conflicts around the world and are also used for rapid deployments in case of emergencies, such as threats to US embassies.
Mr Trump has sought to portray the protest in Los Angeles as an attack on national sovereignty.
"What you're witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty, carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags," Mr Trump claimed yesterday, adding his administration would "liberate Los Angeles."
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Asked whether the United States was being invaded by a foreign nation, the top US general said there was no evidence of an invasion.
"At this time, I don't see any foreign state-sponsored folks invading," General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during the same hearing.
Police arrested another 197 people yesterday - more than double the total number of arrests to date.
Democratic leaders have raised concerns over a national crisis in what has become the most intense flashpoint yet in the Trump administration's efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally, and then crack down on opponents who take to the streets in protest.
"This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and even our National Guard at risk. That's when the downward spiral began," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a video address.
Watch: Gavin Newsom accuses Donald Trump of escalating violence in LA
"He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety ... democracy is under assault."
Mr Newsom, widely seen as preparing for a presidential run in 2028, has called the deployments an illegal waste of resources.
He and the state sued Mr Trump and the Defence Department on Monday, seeking to block the deployment of federal troops. Mr Trump in turn has suggested Mr Newsom should be arrested.
Homeland Security said on Monday that its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division had arrested 2,000 immigration offenders per day recently, far above the 311 daily average in fiscal year 2024 under former President Joe Biden.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a curfew for a 2sq/km area of downtown Los Angeles that will run from 8pm to 6am locally (4am to 2pm Irish time) for several days.
State and local officials have called Mr Trump's response an extreme overreaction to mostly peaceful demonstrations.
Ms Bass emphasised at a press conference the distinction between the majority of demonstrators protesting peacefully and a smaller number of agitators she blamed for violence and looting.
Protests also took place in other cities including New York, Atlanta and Chicago, where demonstrators shouted at and scuffled with officers. Some protesters climbed onto the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, while others chanted that ICE should be abolished.
Read more:
Does Newsom's 'rule of Don' attack lay ground for 2028 presidential run?
California asks court to block troop deployment in LA
The 700 marines and 4,000 National Guard troops that Mr Trump has ordered to Los Angeles do not have arrest authority, US Army Major General Scott Sherman, who is commanding the troops, told reporters.
But Maj Gen Sherman said they do have the power to detain individuals temporarily until law enforcement can arrest them, if needed to fulfil their mission of protecting federal personnel or property.
The marines, who have been training at Seal Beach just south of Los Angeles County, will not carry live ammunition in their rifles, he added.
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Maj Gen Sherman's comments reflect regular rules of engagement and did not reflect an expansion of authorities.
In addition to protecting government buildings and personnel, the Pentagon has said the troops will safeguard Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during raids.
