Marines are now on duty in Los Angeles for the first time.
Tensions are escalating between President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue to grip Los Angeles and spread to New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Austin, Texas, and other cities.
Trump deployed about 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to LA against Newsom's wishes.
A federal appeals court Thursday delayed an order requiring the Trump administration to return control of the National Guard to Newsom, dealing the administration a temporary reprieve to what would have been a major reversal of its policy on the protests.
Protests in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday have now moved to block traffic on the 101 Freeway.
Officers on the scene are working to move demonstrators away from the major highway.
This comes after protesters blocked both northbound and southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway for several hours on Sunday night.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he’s filed an emergency motion to block President Donald Trump’s deployment of Marines and National Guardsmen, saying the president’s actions were illegal and are "turning the U.S. military against American citizens."
"The courts must immediately block these illegal actions," Newsom wrote on social media.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has set a Thursday hearing to determine whether to issue a temporary restraining order.
He declined Newsom's request to issue the order immediately and is giving the Trump administration the time they requested to file a response.
The Los Angeles Police Department said via X that officers have begun making arrests in the downtown area after announcing a dispersal order.
Officials asked that people avoid the Alameda area between Aliso Street and Temple Street.
"Officers are making arrests," the LAPD wrote. "Please do not interfere with the lawful arrests."
While visiting Fort Bragg to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, President Donald Trump spoke at length about the ongoing protests in Los Angeles and his administration's response -- including the deployment of National Guardsmen and Marines, despite objections from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Trump again claimed, without evidence, that paid "insurrectionists" and "criminal invaders" are seizing the city.
"Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third world lawlessness here at home, like is happening in California," Trump said.
"As commander in chief, I will not let that happen. It's never going to happen. 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 with the aim of continuing a foreign invasion of our country," he said.
