(PatriotNews.net) – Veterans protesting ICE enforcement were arrested at the Capitol while Trump deployed Marines to Los Angeles and planned a massive military parade for his birthday, showcasing his aggressive stance on immigration and willingness to use military force against American citizens.
Key Takeaways
- 60 veterans and military family members were arrested during a Capitol protest against Trump’s immigration policies and military deployments
- Trump deployed 700 Marines and 2,100 National Guard troops to Los Angeles despite legal challenges from Governor Newsom
- The administration organized a massive military parade featuring 6,600 soldiers on June 14, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday
- Nationwide “No Kings” protests erupted in multiple cities against what demonstrators called Trump’s authoritarian tactics
- A federal court battle is ongoing regarding the constitutionality of deploying active-duty military for domestic law enforcement
Veterans Arrested at Capitol While Protesting Military Deployments
Capitol Police arrested approximately 60 veterans and military family members affiliated with “Veterans for Peace” after they breached barricades at the U.S. Capitol on June 13, 2025. The protesters staged a sit-in to oppose what they described as the Trump administration’s militarized response to immigration protests nationwide. Two protesters required hospitalization following the arrests, with charges including unlawful demonstration, crossing police lines, and assault on police officers.
The veterans group specifically condemned Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles and the planned Army anniversary parade in Washington D.C., calling the latter a “political stunt” designed to showcase military might rather than serve legitimate national security interests. Protesters demanded the redirection of military funds to domestic priorities like housing and healthcare for Americans, highlighting what they view as misplaced priorities in federal spending.
Marines and National Guard Deployed to Los Angeles
In a move that sparked constitutional concerns and legal challenges, President Trump deployed 700 active-duty Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, alongside 2,100 California National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles. The deployment, designated as Task Force 51, was ostensibly to guard federal properties including the Wilshire Federal Building during anti-ICE protests that have intensified throughout the city in recent weeks.
California Governor Gavin Newsom immediately sued the federal government, calling the deployment “authoritarian” and a violation of state sovereignty. A federal judge initially blocked the deployments, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay, allowing troops to remain in position until at least June 17 when further hearings are scheduled. The legal battle highlights growing tensions between federal and state authorities over immigration enforcement.
“This unprecedented deployment of active-duty military personnel against American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights represents a dangerous escalation and potential violation of the Posse Comitatus Act,” said Governor Newsom in a statement condemning the federal action.
Trump’s Military Parade Coincides with Birthday Celebration
Adding fuel to the controversy, the Trump administration organized a massive military parade in Washington D.C. on June 14, ostensibly to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. The parade featured 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and 50 aircraft in a display of American military might that critics noted coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday. The timing and scale of the event prompted accusations that taxpayer funds were being used for what amounted to a presidential birthday celebration.
The parade proceeded despite widespread “No Kings” protests that erupted in cities across the nation, 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 heightening concerns about the use of military personnel in domestic law enforcement roles.
“What we’re seeing is a president who believes he can use the military as his personal security force to suppress dissent and enforce controversial policies,” said retired Colonel James Garrison, a military analyst not affiliated with the protests. “This sets a dangerous precedent that undermines civilian control of the military and the constitutional separation of powers.”
Constitutional Crisis Looms Over Military Use
Legal experts have raised serious concerns about the constitutionality of deploying active-duty military personnel for what appears to be domestic law enforcement. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally prohibits federal military personnel from enforcing domestic policies within the United States, with limited exceptions that many scholars argue don’t apply to the current situation in Los Angeles.
The Trump administration has defended the deployments as necessary to protect federal property and personnel from what they characterize as “violent anarchists” threatening law and order. However, local officials in Los Angeles have disputed this characterization, noting that the vast majority of protests have been peaceful and that local law enforcement was adequately handling security before federal intervention.
As tensions continue to escalate between protesters, state officials, and federal authorities, the nation faces a potential constitutional crisis over the proper role of military forces in domestic affairs. The outcome of pending court cases could set significant precedents for presidential authority and the limits of federal power in immigration enforcement for generations to come.
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