The President deploying Marines inside the U.S. without invoking the Insurrection Act, declaring an emergency, or getting local/state approval โ especially just to respond to peaceful protests โ is unlawful on multiple levels:
- ๐น Violates DoD Directive 3025.18 โ Active-duty military (including Marines) canโt engage in domestic law enforcement unless explicitly authorized.
- ๐น Violates the First Amendment โ Peaceful protest is protected. Military suppression = unconstitutional. (NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co., 458 U.S. 886).
- ๐น Violates the Fourth Amendment โ Military detentions/searches are illegal without cause. (Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32).
- ๐น Ignores Posse Comitatus limits โ PCA (18 U.S.C. ยงโฏ1385) applies to Army/Air Force, but DoD extends it to all branches.
- ๐น Unlawful military orders โ Troops must disobey unconstitutional orders (UCMJ Art. 92; U.S. v. Calley, 48 C.M.R. 19).
- ๐น Impeachable abuse of power โ Violates Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution.
This isnโt just controversial โ itโs flat-out illegal.