Los Angeles protests: Experts warn Trump's troop deployment could deepen U.S. social divisions

California is set to face off with Washington in court on Thursday, challenging President Donald Trump's decision to deploy U.S. troops in Los Angeles amid protests against his immigration policies. Thousands of demonstrators have flooded major cities in opposition to Trump's immigration crackdown, prompting the federal intervention.

The military announced that 700 U.S. Marines will join up to 4,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles by Thursday or Friday, tasked with protecting federal properties and agents involved in immigration enforcement. This follows Trump's deployment of the National Guard earlier in the week, in response to escalating protests sparked by a series of immigration raids.

A federal judge in San Francisco will hear California's case, where the state is seeking a temporary restraining order to block the troops from participating in law enforcement activities. California ultimately hopes for a ruling that would return the National Guard to state control, declaring Trump's actions illegal.

The Los Angeles protests erupted last Friday in response to recent immigration raids, prompting Trump to call in the National Guard on Saturday and U.S. Marines by Monday. "If I didn't act quickly, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now," Trump claimed.

Experts have raised concerns that Trump's handling of the protests and his broader immigration policies could deepen social divisions in the U.S., leading to more widespread confrontation. Diao Daming, a professor at the School of International Studies at Renmin University, noted that the protests were a direct result of Trump's renewed push for stringent law enforcement on illegal immigration.

Since taking office, Trump has expanded the authority of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), directing the agency to increase arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants. This has sparked strong opposition, particularly in California, a key Democratic stronghold.

California's sanctuary city policies, which provide protections for undocumented immigrants, are at odds with Trump's enforcement priorities. Los Angeles has been a focal point for this clash, as the city has explicitly prohibited local resources from aiding federal immigration enforcement.

Diao observed that the city's stance against federal immigration policies has made it a primary target for Trump's law enforcement expansion. He also pointed out that the confrontation between Trump and California is symptomatic of the broader partisan struggle that characterizes much of American politics today. The Trump administration's aggressive tactics, he warned, may only further exacerbate the deep social divisions in the U.S.

Su Xiaohui, an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, echoed Diao's concerns, noting that the escalating conflicts between federal and local authorities are intensifying party polarization. 

Su also highlighted the ongoing bickering between Trump and figures like billionaire Elon Musk, whom the president fears may side with the Democrats, further fueling partisan tensions.

Sun Taiyi, an associate professor of political science at Christopher Newport University, raised doubts about the legal justification for Trump's troop deployment. Sun argued that the protest sites in Los Angeles, which included local businesses and shops, did not meet the criteria for federal intervention, which traditionally applies to federal facilities like the Pentagon or Capitol Hill. 

Despite local officials asserting that the situation was under control, Trump pressed ahead with the deployment, using the crisis to bolster his political standing while diverting attention from other issues, such as inflation caused by his tariff policies, Sun said.