Pentagon Withdraws 700 Marines from Los Angeles After Immigration Protests

The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of 700 Marines deployed to Los Angeles in response to protests against federal immigration raids, ending a domestic deployment of active-duty troops not seen in over 30 years. President Donald Trump authorized the deployment in early June to protect federal buildings, including the Wilshire Federal Building and ICE offices, amid demonstrations that were largely peaceful but met with police use of tear gas and less-lethal rounds in other parts of the city. The Marines, supported by 4,000 National Guard troops, were criticized by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who argued the troops were neither trained for urban crowd control nor authorized to make arrests, calling the deployment unnecessary and a misuse of military personnel. Despite the controversy, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell praised the Marines' discipline and role in restoring order, while the administration has begun scaling back National Guard presence as well, with 2,000 troops already withdrawn and calls to remove the remainder. The Marines' deployment faced legal and public relations challenges, including misinformation and concerns over their authority in civilian policing. As the Marines leave, military vehicles remain at the Wilshire Federal Building, with National Guard troops still stationed there during the ongoing transition period.