Supporters of Honduran youth Emerson Collindres detained by federal immigration agents are protesting outside Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

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On the 8th (local time), a man climbed onto a vehicle in Los Angeles, California, waving the Mexican flag. Photo by Getty Images, AFP, Yonhap News.

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Police officers are moving to disperse activists protesting immigration enforcement on a road near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, USA, on the 8th (local time). Photo by EPA Yonhap News

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California National Guard members are participating in crowd control during an immigration enforcement protest near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, USA, on the 8th (local time). Photo by EPA and Yonhap News

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On June 8 (local time), as protests against the crackdown on undocumented immigrants continued for a second day in Los Angeles (LA), President Donald Trump announced that, in addition to deploying 2,000 National Guard troops, he may also call up the Marines to send additional forces. While President Trump is weighing whether to invoke the Insurrection Act, some hardline immigration advocates have already labeled the protests as an "insurrection," continuing with aggressive rhetoric.

Meeting with the White House press corps in New Jersey, President Trump was asked whether he was ready to invoke the Insurrection Act in the LA area. He replied, "That depends on whether an insurrection occurs." When asked if he believed an insurrection was underway, he said, "No. But there are violent people, and we are not going to just let them go."

The previous day, instead of invoking the Insurrection Act, President Trump ordered that control of the National Guard?who typically operate under the direction of the governor?be transferred to the Secretary of Defense under Title 10, Section 12406 of the US Code. He directed 2,000 National Guard troops to be sent to the protest areas to protect government functions and assets.

US President Donald Trump is talking with reporters on the 8th (local time) at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey. This airport is on the way to Camp David. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News

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According to two sources cited by Reuters, President Trump has not yet decided whether to invoke the Insurrection Act. Enacted in 1807, the Insurrection Act provides the legal basis for the president to deploy the military to suppress insurrections or civil unrest. It is interpreted as both a failure of state government and a declaration of national emergency. The last time this law was used was during the 1992 LA riots, when troops were deployed at the request of the governor.

Some senior White House officials are already referring to the current protests as an "insurrection." Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff and a hardliner on immigration, called the protests a "violent insurrection." Vice President J.D. Vance also expressed his frustration on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Insurrectionists are attacking immigration enforcement agents, and half of America's political leaders consider border enforcement to be 'evil.'"

The Trump administration is also leaving open the possibility of deploying regular military units such as the Marines, in addition to the National Guard. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses stated that the Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton near LA are prepared to support the National Guard deployed in LA. When asked about the possibility of deploying the Marines, President Trump said, "We will see what is needed. We will send whatever is necessary to maintain law and order."

On the 8th (local time), the LA police arrested a protester in front of the federal building in Los Angeles (LA), USA. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News

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The protests, now in their second day, began near the federal building in downtown LA on June 6 as a demonstration against the aggressive enforcement actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration. The protests erupted after ICE classified and urgently arrested 44 individuals as undocumented immigrants across LA on that day. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed in a statement that the number of protesters on June 6 reached 1,000, but Reuters reported that this figure could not be independently confirmed. On June 7, tear gas and flash grenades were used, and some protesters were arrested.

However, British newspaper The Guardian and US network CNN reported that controversy continues over both the legal basis for President Trump's authorization of the National Guard deployment and whether excessive force is being used. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy wrote on X, "President Trump is not trying to heal or maintain peace. He is trying to incite conflict and sow division." Progressive California Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized on social media, "It's not because there aren't enough police, but because they (the Trump administration) want a show that the National Guard is being deployed."

The role of the National Guard deployed to LA also remains unclear. The New York Times (NYT) reported that military authorities are uncertain about the rules of engagement for the National Guard sent to LA under President Trump's orders and how they should respond to protesters. According to the NYT, the National Guard has been tasked with protecting federal assets and personnel in the protest areas and received instructions on rules of engagement just before deployment, but the Department of Defense has not disclosed those details.

Meanwhile, President Trump is scheduled to hold a meeting with military authorities at the presidential retreat, Camp David, on the same day.

President Trump cited national security concerns as the reason.

According to the White House, Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary Hegses are expected to go to Camp David. AFP·Yonhap News