US Withdraws 2,000 National Guard Troops from Los Angeles After Immigration Protests

President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, reducing the force deployed last month in response to protests triggered by immigration raids conducted by ICE. Nearly 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines were initially deployed to protect federal facilities amid violent demonstrations, with troops primarily focusing on safeguarding federal property and personnel rather than law enforcement activities. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the mission's success in reducing lawlessness in the city justified the phased withdrawal, though about 2,000 National Guard members and the Marines remain stationed in Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the deployment as an unnecessary and politically motivated move that disrupted the National Guard's critical state duties and called for the remaining troops to be sent home. The deployment sparked legal challenges from California, with the state suing the Trump administration over sovereignty concerns, but federal courts allowed the continuation of the federal control of the National Guard. The protests began in June following immigration enforcement actions that resulted in arrests and clashes between protesters and law enforcement, contributing to tensions over immigration policy and federal intervention in local affairs.