Pentagon Ends Deployment of 2,000 National Guard Troops in Los Angeles

The Pentagon announced the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, reducing the deployed force to manage protests against President Trump's immigration enforcement policies. Initially, around 4,000 California National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were mobilized following widespread protests and some rioting triggered by federal immigration raids. The deployment, beginning in early June, was the first time in decades that the National Guard was deployed without a governor's request, leading to legal challenges and local controversy, including a halted operation in MacArthur Park. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell credited the troops with helping to subside lawlessness in the city, while local officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, emphasized the role of peaceful protests and legal actions in achieving the troop drawdown. However, 2,000 troops remain stationed to protect government buildings and personnel, and concerns about wildfire season staffing also influenced troop reassignments. The situation reflects ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement efforts and local responses in California.