More than a month after President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of approximately 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, the Pentagon has confirmed their withdrawal from the city, effective immediately.
This decision follows the Pentagon’s recent announcement that half of nearly 4,000 National Guard troops stationed in the Los Angeles area would also be released from their duties.
The deployment of military troops to the city occurred in early June amid significant federal immigration raids and widespread protests against such enforcement actions. During this period, the Trump administration sought to reinforce measures against what it characterized as rioters, looters, and thugs in the city.
While President Trump asserted that he had “saved Los Angeles” through this militarized approach, many local and state officials criticized the deployment as excessive and unnecessary.
California politicians and community advocates expressed concerns that such a show of military force could escalate tensions rather than alleviate them, putting both the Marines and protesters at heightened risk.
As protests in downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas began to subside by mid-June, many Marines found themselves engaged in routine duties rather than the expected high-activity military operations.
Some were assigned to guard federal buildings, while others accompanied immigration agents during tense enforcement actions. However, in recent days, their presence had shifted more towards routine monitoring, with little activity to justify their deployment.
In a statement from the Pentagon, chief spokesperson Sean Parnell, speaking on behalf of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, praised the contributions of the Marines.
Parnell stated, “With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated.”
He added that the Marines’ discipline and vigilance were integral to restoring order in the city and expressed gratitude for their service.
The financial implications of this military engagement are substantial, with Pentagon estimates placing the cost of deploying the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles at about $134 million.
The news of the Marines’ withdrawal coincided with a public statement from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, where she labeled the military presence as “inappropriate.”
Bass framed the Marines’ exit as a victory for the city, asserting that supporting troops involved allowing them to perform their designated military functions rather than securing civilian office buildings.
The recent immigration raids have stirred significant anxiety within immigrant communities in the Los Angeles area, sparking considerable opposition to the actions of the Trump administration.
Public reaction appears to be shifting against these arrests, as recent data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement reveals that a majority of those apprehended lacked criminal records.
Notably, nearly half of the individuals caught in these operations are Mexican nationals, many of whom have deep-rooted ties to the United States.
Furthermore, the administration is grappling with escalating legal challenges related to the raids.
In mid-July, a federal judge issued a ruling that temporarily blocked federal agents from employing racial profiling during indiscriminate arrests.
Subsequently, the administration sought to appeal this decision in a federal court, with the appeals court poised to address this appeal next Monday.
As local leaders express relief over the Marines’ withdrawal, there remains a broader sentiment that the threat of militarization in American cities is far from resolved.
Ysabel Jurado, a progressive member of the Los Angeles City Council, lauded the withdrawal as a sign of resistance against federal occupation.
Jurado stated on X, “The #SummerofResistance is working. Our federal occupation may be coming to an end here in LA but the fight against authoritarianism is far from over.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized the necessity of military deployment against civilians, emphasizing that there was no justification for such actions.
“The damage is done, however. We, again, call upon them to do the right thing and end the militarization once and for all,” Newsom stated, articulating the sentiments of many in the region.
Despite previous legal attempts to block the mobilization of National Guard troops, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the president’s authority to deploy military forces in U.S. cities.
A forthcoming decision from a federal judge in San Francisco is expected to shed light on whether the deployment of federal troops violated existing federal legislation.
Currently, approximately 2,000 National Guard troops continue to remain stationed in the Los Angeles area, as the city continues to navigate the ramifications of federal immigration policy and militarization efforts.
image source from：latimes
