Amid a storm of protest and arrests in downtown Los Angeles, immigration authorities appear to be intensifying operations across Southern California as federal officials vow to press ahead with a crackdown on workers and residents without proper documents.

An escalating clash pits a Republican president looking to fulfill his mass deportation goals against a Democratic governor with White House aspirations hoping to mobilize opposition.

California is taking the Trump administration to court Thursday over the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops and Marines to LA in support of immigration enforcement operations.