Pentagon Cancels Deployment of National Guard in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is seeing a reduction in military presence, with just 250 members remaining after the Pentagon’s announcement on Thursday to cancel additional force deployments. This decision comes as protests against anti-immigration policies in the city have significantly lessened.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegses has ordered the withdrawal of 1,350 National Guard members, but several hundreds will stay to ensure the safety of federal personnel and their property, as stated by Pentagon spokesman Chief Sean Parnell.
In June, around 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles in response to protests against raids targeting migrants. This federal action continued despite pushback from state and local authorities, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who took legal steps to halt the deployment. Two weeks ago, half of the National Guard troops began their withdrawal, and soon after, the Marines were directed to follow suit.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the recent troop withdrawal as “another victory for Los Angeles” in a post on a social media platform, emphasizing that all remaining troops will ultimately be removed. She noted that these service members have families and jobs, highlighting the strange reality that they were initially sent to address potential dangers but instead spent months safeguarding two office buildings.
The Pentagon’s decision to pull out 700 Marines comes as some stability returns after the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These National Guard forces were primarily stationed in the city to protect specific federal sites, including an ICE office and a downtown detention facility. Some Guard members were also tasked with overseeing federal raids on immigrants.
California officials have argued that the federal military presence was unnecessary and only served to heighten tensions in the city. Protests continue, albeit in a much quieter manner than before, with many signs of dissent appearing less organized.
Newsom commented that the federal military’s actions were more about political theatrics than actual safety, suggesting that using troops in this manner is inappropriate. He has previously accused the Trump administration of legal violations concerning the troop deployment, filing for judicial intervention to stop the military’s role in immigration raids.
The initial legal ruling favored Newsom, attempting to regain control of the National Guard, but this was later blocked by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
