The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of 700 U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, ending a controversial deployment that began more than a month ago under orders from President Donald Trump. The Marines, from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, were deployed on June 9 following escalating protests over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
The Marines had been stationed at two federal sites in the city, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office and detention facility in downtown L.A. They were also seen outside a federal complex in West L.A., where they briefly detained a man claiming to be en route to a Veterans Affairs appointment — an incident that fueled criticism from local officials and veterans’ groups.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the deployment, stating, “The military presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated.”
However, the presence of active-duty troops and the federalization of California’s National Guard sparked immediate backlash from city and state leaders. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, flanked by veterans’ group leaders at a press conference Monday morning, applauded the withdrawal and called for the remaining National Guard troops to leave the city.
“This is another win for Los Angeles but this is also a win for those serving this country in uniform,” Bass said. “Los Angeles stands with our troops, which is why we are glad they are leaving.”
The Marine withdrawal comes just a week after half of the 4,000 National Guard troops were ordered to stand down. The remaining Guard personnel are still stationed in the city, despite ongoing legal efforts to bring them home.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a staunch critic of the deployment, filed a lawsuit in June challenging the federal government’s actions. Newsom argued that Trump had unlawfully bypassed him by activating and federalizing the state’s Guard units without consent. A federal district court initially sided with Newsom, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay, allowing the deployment to continue.
Newsom, who had included the Marines in the early stages of the lawsuit, renewed his call Monday for the Guard’s full withdrawal.
“The women and men of the California National Guard deserve more than to continue serving as puppets in Trump and Stephen Miller’s performative political theater,” Newsom said in a statement. “There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles.”
The use of active-duty military on domestic soil is exceedingly rare and, in this case, has raised broader constitutional concerns. Legal scholars and civil liberties advocates have questioned the precedent set by federalizing a state’s Guard against the governor’s wishes and deploying troops in response to domestic protests.
As the Marines depart and the legal battle over the National Guard’s role continues, many in Los Angeles hope the city can begin to heal from weeks of tension, protest, and federal intervention.