Trump Sends 700 Marines to LA, Doubles Number of National Guard

Tuesday 10 June 2025 - 08:01

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump Sends 700 Marines to LA, Doubles Number of National Guard

In a major move to counter immigration-related protests, the Pentagon has announced the deployment of 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. This follows President Donald Trump’s earlier decision to send National Guard troops to the city, prompting sharp criticism from California officials.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that 2,000 additional National Guard troops would also be mobilized, significantly escalating the federal response to peaceful demonstrations against immigration enforcement actions.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who opposed the deployment, has filed a lawsuit alongside Attorney General Rob Bonta, arguing that Trump overstepped his authority by sending troops without state consent. Newsom denounced the move as unconstitutional and accused the president of manufacturing a crisis to seize control of the state’s military resources.

Despite Trump not invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 which would allow active military involvement in domestic law enforcement a senior official clarified that the Marines would only support the National Guard and not engage directly with protesters.

Observers on the ground, including Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds, noted that the National Guard had played a limited role, merely guarding federal buildings. The presence of Marines, typically deployed overseas in combat roles, raised questions about the necessity and symbolism of their domestic deployment.

The Trump administration’s actions have sparked concern among civil rights advocates and union groups. Peaceful demonstrations continued in Los Angeles and other cities, including New York, as protestors opposed ICE raids and a new travel ban affecting 12 countries.

Indigenous leader Perla Rios, speaking at one of the raided sites, called for fair legal treatment for detainees, describing the situation as a “nightmare” for families. The Service Employees International Union joined the outcry, demanding the release of individuals detained during immigration operations and an end to policies that, in their view, destabilize communities nationwide.