500 Marines Ready for Deployment in Los Angeles Amid Protests

Approximately 500 U.S. Marines are on standby in Los Angeles as tensions escalate between protesters and law enforcement over President Trump’s immigration policies, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.

The statement noted, “We’re ready to deploy our status. [Defense Department’s] ‘Protection of Federal Property and HR efforts.'” This announcement came shortly after Trump revealed his approval for deploying about 2,000 California Army National Guard troops.

This federal activation of the California State Guard is an unusual and somewhat legally unclear maneuver that does not have the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Historically, the last time the federal government mobilized National Guard members without a governor’s approval was in 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Selma, Alabama, to protect civil rights activists.

The deployment of the National Guard typically serves a limited purpose, mainly to safeguard federal properties, such as the downtown Los Angeles Detention Center, which is at the heart of the current unrest.

Generally, the military is restricted from taking over domestic law enforcement roles. There’s speculation that invoking the Rebellion Act could be a way around these limitations. Although Trump did not dismiss this idea during a press gaggle before boarding Air Force One, he hinted that the current protests against immigration raids have not yet escalated to that level.

Following the gaggle, Trump issued a statement declaring that “a violent, rebel mob is swarming and attacking our federal agents to stop deportation operations.” He also indicated he had instructed key Cabinet members, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

On Sunday morning, Hegseth mentioned that the Marines were prepared for deployment in Los Angeles if needed.