(DailyChive.com) – Veterans protesting ICE at the U.S. Capitol were met with mass arrests as Trump deployed Marines to Los Angeles and planned a controversial military parade, signaling an unprecedented militarization of domestic policy enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- 60 veterans and military family members were arrested at the U.S. Capitol during protests against ICE and military deployments
- Trump deployed 700 active-duty Marines and 2,100 National Guard troops to Los Angeles despite legal challenges from Governor Newsom
- A massive military parade featuring 6,600 soldiers coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday, drawing criticism as a “political stunt”
- Nationwide “No Kings” protests erupted in multiple cities against what demonstrators called authoritarian immigration enforcement
- Federal courts initially blocked troop deployments but later allowed them to remain, highlighting the constitutional crisis
Veterans Arrested at Capitol Protest
In a dramatic confrontation at the U.S. Capitol, approximately 60 veterans and military family members affiliated with “Veterans for Peace” were arrested on June 13, 2025, after breaching security barricades to stage a sit-in protest. The demonstrators, many wearing military uniforms adorned with peace symbols, vocally opposed the Trump administration’s militarized response to immigration protests and the deployment of troops to American cities. Capitol Police charged the protesters with unlawful demonstration, crossing police lines, and in some cases, assault on officers.
The veterans specifically demanded the redirection of military funds to housing and healthcare programs, while denouncing Trump’s deployment of Marines to Los Angeles and the planned Army anniversary parade as political theater rather than necessary security measures. Two protesters required hospitalization following the arrests, though details of their conditions were not immediately released. The demonstration represented a significant escalation in veteran-led resistance to the administration’s domestic military deployments.
Marines and National Guard Deploy to Los Angeles
President Trump’s controversial deployment of military personnel to Los Angeles has created a constitutional showdown with California Governor Gavin Newsom. The operation, designated as Task Force 51, includes 700 active-duty Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, alongside 2,100 California National Guard soldiers. These forces have established defensive positions around federal properties, most notably the Wilshire Federal Building, where anti-ICE protesters have gathered in large numbers.
“This is nothing short of authoritarian overreach,” declared Governor Newsom in a statement accompanying his federal lawsuit challenging the deployments. “The President is militarizing our cities against American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights.” The legal battle intensified when a federal judge initially blocked the deployments, only to have the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issue a stay allowing troops to remain until at least June 17, pending further hearings.
President Trump defended the military presence, claiming on social media that the troops were preventing “radical leftists from burning our beautiful cities to the ground.” Military officials from U.S. Northern Command characterized the mission as “protecting federal assets and personnel” while maintaining they were not engaged in law enforcement activities – a distinction critics argue is meaningless given their armed presence at protest sites.
Trump’s Military Parade Sparks Nationwide Protests
The June 14th military parade in Washington D.C., ostensibly celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary but coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday, has become a lightning rod for criticism. The massive display featured 6,600 soldiers marching in formation, 150 military vehicles including tanks and armored personnel carriers, and flyovers from 50 military aircraft. Critics noted the parade’s $22 million price tag at a time when veterans’ services remain underfunded.
“This parade isn’t about honoring the military – it’s about Trump’s ego and normalizing military force on American streets,” said Colonel James Garrison (Ret.), a spokesperson for Veterans for Peace. “We’re seeing the tools of foreign wars being turned against American citizens who simply want humane immigration policies.”
The parade triggered nationwide “No Kings” protests in major cities including Denver, where thousands rallied against ICE and Trump’s immigration policies. In Los Angeles, demonstrators clashed with Marines and National Guard troops near federal buildings, resulting in dozens of arrests and several injuries. The protests specifically targeted the administration’s expanded deportation operations and the creation of massive detention facilities along the southern border.
Constitutional Crisis Looms
Legal experts warn that the standoff between federal and state authorities over military deployments represents a dangerous constitutional precedent. The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits federal military personnel from engaging in domestic law enforcement, but the Trump administration has argued that guarding federal property falls outside these restrictions. Critics contend this interpretation creates a dangerous loophole that effectively militarizes immigration enforcement.
“We’re witnessing the erosion of the bright line between military and civilian authority that has protected American democracy for centuries,” said constitutional scholar Robert Chesney of the University of Texas. “Once you normalize troops on American streets, it becomes increasingly difficult to put that genie back in the bottle.”
The deployment of Marines marks the first time since the 1992 Los Angeles riots that active-duty military personnel have been used in a domestic policing capacity. Unlike National Guard troops, who can operate under state control, Marines remain exclusively under federal command, raising serious questions about the proper chain of command when operating on American soil against American citizens.
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