700 Marines who arrived in Los Angeles last month in response to protests related to increased immigration enforcement are leaving the city. This was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, reports The Hill.
“As the situation in Los Angeles stabilizes, [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth] has ordered the withdrawal of 700 Marines, whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated.”
– Sean Parnell, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson
Parnell noted that the “undeniable presence” of the Marines in the city was “key to restoring order and ensuring the rule of law,” although most of the troops were rarely seen in public after the initial show of force in June.
The Trump administration is gradually reducing the military presence in Los Angeles after the president ordered about 4,100 California National Guard troops, followed by 700 Marines, to stop protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
This move drew criticism from California officials, as it was carried out without the consent of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused Trump of escalating tensions through what he considered an unnecessary deployment of troops.
After the protests in the city largely subsided, the military was left with little to do, and last week Hegseth ordered half of the roughly 4,000 National Guard troops to return home. About 2,000 remain in Los Angeles, continuing to protect ICE agents during raids.
Another 150 National Guard members were previously sent from the city to assist with fighting wildfires in California.
Newsom insists on a complete withdrawal of troops from the city, claiming that Trump is using them as “political pawns.”
Parnell did not specify exactly when the Marines will leave the city, but a Department of Defense representative told The Washington Post that they will return to the Twentynine Palms base in the coming days.
In a video posted Monday on X, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (Democrat) welcomed the Marines’ withdrawal, calling their initial deployment “unnecessary.”
Immigration Protests in the U.S.: Key Facts
The protests began on the evening of June 6 in Los Angeles after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested at least 118 foreigners during a week of citywide checks for suspected immigration violations.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that there were about “1,000 riot participants” at the protests. According to the agency, demonstrators surrounded the federal law enforcement building and attacked ICE officers.
On June 7 in Paramount, California, near a Home Depot store, new clashes erupted close to the Department of Homeland Security office. Police used tear gas, flashbangs, and pepper spray, while protesters threw stones and cement at border patrol vehicles.
According to AP, a union leader was arrested during the protest and charged with obstructing law enforcement.
Census data shows that a significant portion of California’s population consists of Latino and foreign-born residents.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in connection with the clashes that occurred in Los Angeles during protests against raids on undocumented migrants. They are to “temporarily protect ICE employees and other U.S. government officials carrying out federal duties.” They will be deployed for 60 days, with the final decision resting with the U.S. Secretary of Defense.