Pentagon Withdraws Marines From Los Angeles Deployment

The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of approximately 700 U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, who were deployed last month under President Trump’s orders amid protests over federal immigration enforcement. This follows the removal of about half of the 4,000 California National Guard troops originally sent to the city, with 2,000 still remaining. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated the Marines helped restore order and protect federal properties, but local leaders including Mayor Karen Bass and state Sen. Caroline Mejivar criticized the deployments as inappropriate. The federal government justified the military presence as necessary to quell lawlessness, which sparked political and legal disputes over federal authority. With protests now largely subsided, local officials argue military resources should be redirected to disaster preparedness rather than immigration enforcement. The situation remains a flashpoint in debates over federal intervention in local affairs.