(NewsNation) — The Trump administration has deployed 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles as protests over ICE raids in Southern California enter their fourth day.
In a statement, the U.S. Northern Command said the Marines are being deployed to the area to “help protect federal agents and buildings.”
The National Guard was also sent to the area by President Donald Trump, which has been met with backlash from Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta, who announced a lawsuit against the administration for sending them without authorization.
Ken Cuccinelli, the former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in Trump’s first term, told NewsNation that Trump stood firm on his campaign promise to take this direction to bring peace to cities like Los Angeles. He rejected claims from Newsom and Democratic LA Mayor Karen Bass that Trump is inciting the escalation of the protests by bringing in the Marines and National Guard.
“I give neither Mayor Bass nor Governor Newsom any quarter here,” Cuccinelli said. “They’re very much responsible for the escalation that’s happened here. The president promised to bring peace to the city, but he also promised to enforce immigration laws.”
Cuccinelli said the lawsuit is “well-litigated territory” but that it’s for show and stated Bonta knows the state of California will likely lose the case against the Trump administration.
“God bless America, you get to sue whoever you want, but you don’t get to win,” Cuccinelli said.