The deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amidst ongoing protests against immigration raids has raised significant concerns among soldiers and their families. According to Steve Woolford, a resource counselor for the GI Rights Hotline, numerous calls have poured in from distressed service members unsure about the legality of the deployment, which is currently being challenged in federal court.
Family members of National Guard troops have expressed distress over the potential involvement of their loved ones in federal immigration enforcement activities. Many have voiced worries about their immigrant family members being swept up in raids. Woolford noted that soldiers have articulated their internal conflict: ‘I joined to defend my country, and that’s really important to me — but No. 1 is family, and this is actually a threat to my family.’
Morale among the approximately 4,100 National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines deployed in Los Angeles is reportedly strained, according to veterans’ advocates in contact with those on the ground. Six spokespeople from various veterans’ organizations have indicated that many troops feel their assignment is politically motivated and positions them against American citizens.
Brandi Jones, the organizing director for the Secure Families Initiative, a nonprofit that advocates for military families, emphasized that military families are concerned about the impact of this deployment on troop morale. ‘What we’re hearing from our families is: ‘This is not what we signed up for,’ she remarked.
Janessa Goldbeck, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the chief executive of the Vet Voice Foundation, echoed these sentiments, stating that there is a general consensus among her former colleagues that the deployment appears unnecessary given the current operational landscape. This sentiment reflects a broader concern about the political implications of using the military domestically, especially when local officials have expressed that the presence of troops might escalate tensions.
President Trump has justified the deployment by stating that he saved Los Angeles from chaos, claiming that it would have been ‘burning to the ground’ without military intervention. ‘We saved Los Angeles by having the military go in,’ he said recently, downplaying the circumstances surrounding the protests.
The troops stationed in Los Angeles have restrictions on their authority, as they are primarily meant to protect federal functions, property, and personnel. In response to inquiries, Task Force 51, which oversees the deployed forces, has provided assurances about the personnel’s morale and well-being while noting ongoing improvements to living conditions.
It remains unclear whether the activated National Guard troops have begun to receive their pay following their federal activation orders effective June 7. Task Force 51 indicated that soldiers would start receiving their compensation by the end of the month and encouraged those experiencing financial hardships to seek assistance from organizations like Army Emergency Relief.
U.S. Rep. Derek Tran, an Army veteran currently serving on the House Armed Services Committee, has requested clarity from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the administration’s handling of military logistics but has reported receiving no clear responses. Tran criticized the Trump administration for showing disrespect toward active-duty military members and veterans, suggesting it could harm the military’s ability to recruit and retain personnel effectively.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has also expressed his concerns about the unnecessary strain this deployment places on the physical and emotional health of the soldiers. Newsom criticized the administration’s decision to deploy troops without adequate support, sharing photos on X that depicted National Guard members resting in crowded, inadequate conditions. In response, Task Force 51 clarified that those pictured were not on active missions and were resting safely after their duties.
Following the outrage over living conditions, arrangements have since been made to provide soldiers with better accommodations, including tents and access to hot meals, showers, and laundry services, according to military sources.
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, countered Newsom’s criticisms, arguing that the governor used misleading images to make a political point and asserted that military morale under President Trump is robust, with troops confident in their commander-in-chief.
In Los Angeles, the atmosphere and interactions between troops and the public starkly differ from prior deployments, such as the National Guard’s assistance in wildfire recovery earlier this year. Soldiers now find themselves facing hostility from protestors, which has created a tense and uncomfortable work environment.
During the protests, demonstrators have directed strong criticism toward the troops, questioning their roles and the nature of their deployment. One protestor poignantly challenged the soldiers’ presence with a sign reading, ‘This is not your job. It’s YOUR LEGACY,’ highlighting the moral conflict some service members may be grappling with.
James M. Branum, an attorney with the Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild, noted that calls concerning deployments have surged, particularly since Trump took office. The spike in calls is attributed to service members feeling increasingly unprepared for their domestic deployments, as many had enlisted to combat perceived threats overseas rather than enforce policies within the United States.
In his June 7 federal memo, President Trump outlined the rationale for deploying National Guard units in response to protests against federal enforcement of immigration laws. California officials have since launched a federal lawsuit to challenge the ambiguous nature of the orders, which they argue could lead to misuse of the National Guard.
The family members of military personnel are reportedly unsettled by the rapid changes in their loved ones’ deployment situations and feel unprepared for the implications. Concerns are especially pronounced among those with loved ones already facing personal challenges, such as medical crises or caregiving responsibilities that conflict with military obligations.
Jones recounted a story about the wife of a National Guard member who is struggling to care for her husband’s medical needs while he is deployed, underscoring the heightened anxieties military families face under these circumstances.
The situation for California National Guard members is particularly strained as they are often called to deal with wildfires, earthquakes, and floods. This concurrent need for national and state responses has exacerbated the challenges facing the troops, with many returning from a recent long activation for wildfire recovery only to be called up for a politically charged mission in Los Angeles.
Captain Rasheedah Bilal of the California National Guard highlighted these staffing challenges due to the simultaneous deployment of troops, making it challenging for the state to manage wildfire risks effectively.
The discussion surrounding the Los Angeles deployment taps into larger concerns about the readiness, resilience, and willingness of service members to remain enlisted under current political pressures. As the National Guard continues to grapple with this complex assignment during a contentious time, the long-term consequences for recruitment and troop retention remain uncertain.
image source from：latimes
