President Donald Trump has sent U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in an effort to quash anti-ICE protests that have ravaged parts of the city on Tuesday. Images from L.A. show masked protesters blocking roads,

The president defends his decision on using the military in the city before an audience at Fort Bragg. California officials blame the administration for inflaming tensions.

4:47 p.m. EDT The Trump administration asked the judge to reject Newsom’s request and allow it to respond by Wednesday, calling Newsom’s attempt to block the deployment of federal troops “legally meritless” and saying it would jeopardize the safety of Homeland Security personnel and interfere with the government’s ability to carry out operations.

As protests continue in Los Angeles, hundreds of U.S. Marines have been deployed to the city as President Donald Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom spar over law enforcement response.

Roughly 700 Marines from the Twentynine Palms base have been mobilized in response to protests and unrest in Los Angeles.

The protests began Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carried out coordinated raids across Los Angeles, detaining dozens of workers at warehouses and other worksites. The arrests sparked immediate backlash, with demonstrators converging outside federal buildings, blocking freeways, and in some cases clashing with police.

Roughly 500 Marines based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California have been mobilized to respond to the protests in Los Angeles, according to three people familiar with the matter,

Defense sources tell NBC News hundreds of Marines are being mobilized to support National Guard members in Los Angeles as protests continue over the administration’s immigration policies. NBC News Correspondent David Noriega reports the latest on the ground.