In the days before protests erupted in Los Angeles, the Trump administration stepped up its efforts to detain migrants — taking into custody those who arrived for routine check-ins while also conducting workplace raids that have sent waves of fear across Southern California and beyond.

Over the years, Trump has threatened to intercede in the state’s long-running homeless crisis, vowed to withhold federal wildfire aid as political leverage in a dispute over water rights, called on police to shoot people robbing stores and warned residents “your children are in danger” because of illegal immigration.

A federal judge will hold a hearing on Thursday over California’s request to block the Trump Administration from using troops in Los Angeles to quell unrest sparked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as part of the President’s mass deportation effort.

New Jersey activist and advocates drew parallels to Newark mayor's recent arrest by ICE agents outside detention facility.

Reuters images showed Marines apprehending a civilian, restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security.

Deep-cut case law and 19th century constitutional interpretation underpin the Trump administration argument for deploying troops to Los Angeles.