After President Donald Trump federalized National Guard troops against anti-ICE demonstrators in Los Angeles, Colorado Democratic leaders say the move is an overreach and would oppose similar actions in the state.

Trump has ordered a detachment of 700 U.S. Marines and thousands of National Guard troops to deploy to L.A. over the objections of state and local leaders, the first such move by a U.S. president since 1965. California Governor Gavin Newsom has sued to block the deployments, which he said “crossed a red line.” Trump on Monday suggested Newsom, whom he did not accuse of any crime, should be arrested.

Shelby Wieman, spokesperson for Colorado Governor Jared Polis, said Polis “has been clear” he would not support “federal overreach to activate the National Guard outside of regular order,” as the Colorado National Guard plays an important role in helping the state and others with natural disasters and emergencies as needed.

“There is absolutely no need to take away National Guard units from the states, and any engagement with National Guard on this topic must include Governors, who serve as commanders in chief in most instances for their Guard,” Wieman said in a statement.

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A spokesperson for the Colorado National Guard said Tuesday it “has not received an official request for support” from the federal government.

The memorandum Trump issued authorizing the military escalation is not specific to Los Angeles or California, leaving open the potential for similar responses in other states. Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program, told NPR that the conditions that would ordinarily warrant military action are not present in this situation.

Colorado protests have grown since the escalations in L.A., with more than 1,000 people gathering outside the Colorado Capitol Tuesday night. Attendees began marching down two of the main roads around the Capitol and were met by a line of law enforcement officers after blocking traffic. Police arrested 17 people in relation to the demonstration.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston told Newsline that in his lifetime, Marines or National Guard troops have never been deployed into an American city without an “emphatic plea for help” from the city.

“America is built on the belief that we can ensure public safety and free speech. We don’t have to choose just one,” Johnston said in a statement. “This is not support. This is turning American soldiers on American citizens in service of Trump’s own political theatre. That decision disrespects the Marines and National Guard, disrespects American citizens, and disrespects the rule of law.”

In a post on X, U.S. Representative Jason Crow, a Centennial Democrat and Army veteran, said federalizing the National Guard should always be a “last resort” when local law enforcement cannot alone handle a situation. He urged Trump to reverse course given that both the mayor of L.A. and Newsom made clear they did not need military support.

“The reason for this is simple: introducing military personnel into domestic law enforcement situations is an escalation and can put both the military personnel and civilians on the ground at additional risk,” Crow said in the post.

Crow detailed in a separate thread on X that Trump’s deployment of the military in American communities is concerning because military personnel receive “very little training in law enforcement and domestic disturbance” as they are trained for “high-intensity combat operations.” He said Trump is trying to “intimidate Americans and suppress opposing views.”

Trump’s executive order authorizing the use of “ANY personnel, in ANY location, for ANY length of time” is “a dangerous slippery slope” that should concern Americans everywhere, Crow said.

“Sending military personnel with combat equipment and heavy weapons into tense domestic situations rarely deescalates. We have often seen deadly consequences and the erosion of public trust,” Crow said. “The servicemembers being mobilized signed up to protect Americans and their rights, not to be deployed against their fellow citizens.”

U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert, a Windsor Republican and staunch Trump ally, has shown support for the military escalation in California online and criticized Democrats for “trash talking” military and law enforcement personnel.

“If the feckless progressives in California won’t restore order, our U.S. Marines are more than up to the task,” she posted on X.