Trump’s federal troop deployment amid LA protests heads to court

(NewsNation) — Approximately 330 immigrants have been arrested in Los Angeles since demonstrations against the Trump administration’s federal immigration raids began Friday.

That’s according to the White House, which announced the arrest numbers Wednesday as the city prepared to enter its second day under a curfew enacted by LA Mayor Karen Bass.

The epicenter of nationwide protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, LA’s streets have been flooded with activists, looters and thousands of federal troops.

The U.S. Northern Command said on Thursday that 700 U.S. Marines are rehearsing “nonlethal tactics” and are “ready to respond” in LA. The Marines, like the National Guard, will be tasked with protecting federal officers and property under Title 10.

More protests are planned through the weekend, including a “No Kings” rally on Saturday. The event is part of a national network of events to counter Trump’s pricey military parade in Washington, D.C.

Trump’s military response to LA protests heads to court

A federal court hearing has been scheduled for Thursday over the Trump administration’s decision to send military troops into LA without a request from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The hearing will serve as a defining moment in the legal back-and-forth between Trump and California officials.

The Justice Department argues the administration has no obligation to consult with the governor before sending in troops, while Newsom’s lawsuit cites a 19th-century law that makes it illegal to use federal troops for law enforcement on domestic soil — unless the president invokes the Insurrection Act.

Former federal prosecutor David Weinstein on Thursday told NewsNation that Trump and Newsom’s arguments boil down to semantics over whose approval is needed to deploy troops.

“They’re going to be arguing about a word. The word is ‘through,’ and the governor contends that this process has to go through him … the president is contending that that just means he has to notify the Guard through the governor,” Weinstein said.

Anti-ICE protests continue coast to coast

In Portland, Oregon, approximately 60 to 70 protesters demonstrated outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility into the night Wednesday, according to NewsNation affiliate KOIN.

Local police said munitions were deployed by federal law enforcement when cars were leaving the facility, but things remained mostly peaceful following clashes Tuesday night.

In Indianapolis, around 1,000 people protested ICE raids outside game three of the NBA finals, NewsNation affiliate WTTV reported. The protests remained peaceful and broke up shortly after beginning.

And in Baltimore, demonstrations took place across the city as protesters urged local leaders to protect immigrants from ICE. Again, the demonstrations remained peaceful.

Exclusive: Inside largest ICE workplace operation in Nebraska

Federal agents arrested 70 people in Omaha on Tuesday during what officials called Nebraska’s largest workplace enforcement operation.

Newly sworn-in Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. said he didn’t know why the city was targeted by federal immigration officials and advocated for a “comprehensive immigration policy” to cut down on confusion.

“Right now, what is happening across the country is a lot of fear is being created,” Ewing said. “We don’t have an understandable approach to immigration, especially when it comes to our Latino members of this country.”

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer told reporters Wednesday his department did not assist federal agents in the raid. He said Omaha Police officers seen at the raid site were there to provide traffic control.

NewsNation’s Ali Bradley and Sean Noone contributed to this report.