U.S. Marines & National Guard deployed to Los Angeles amid immigration‑related protests in 2025:
🇺🇸 What’s Happening
Beginning June 6, 2025, protests erupted in Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton after ICE conducted large-scale immigration raids, sparking widely publicized demonstrations that included confrontations with police, property damage, sit-ins on freeways, and the occasional violent skirmish apnews.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15theguardian.com+15.
By June 8, the Trump administration declared the demonstrations a “rebellion or danger of rebellion,” invoking Title 10 to federalize the California National Guard—a move rarely seen without state approval cbsnews.com+2abc7.com+2theguardian.com+2.
Approximately 300 Guard troops were initially deployed to federal buildings; soon after, around 500 Marines based in Twentynine Palms were put on “prepared to deploy” status abc7.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3cbsnews.com+3.
U.S. Marines & National Guard deployed to Los Angeles amid immigration‑related protests in 2025:
Intensification of Federal Forces
Ahead of June 9, the U.S. Department of Defense mobilized 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles to protect federal property and personnel, marking the first domestic deployment of Marines for civil unrest in over three decades thetimes.co.uk+15wsj.com+15theguardian.com+15.
On June 9–10, President Trump further ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, pushing the federal troop presence to well over 4,000 service members theguardian.com+4apnews.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4.
Mandates and Rules of Engagement
Federal forces are barred from engaging with protesters, limited to the defense of federal buildings and personnel under the Posse Comitatus Act. Their weapons are carried uncocked, and they are not deployed to arrest or disperse civilians; there is no invocation of the Insurrection Act apnews.com+2abcnews.go.com+2wsj.com+2.
Despite this, local law enforcement warns that the lack of coordination with federal forces could create serious logistical and operational challenges on the ground cbsnews.com+1abcnews.go.com+1.
Local & State Reaction
Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta immediately criticized the federalization as an illegal takeover of state authority, filing a lawsuit under the Tenth Amendment to halt the deployment abcnews.go.com+15theguardian.com+15abc7.com+15.
The lawsuit argues that the situation was under local control, with the protests de‑escalating before federal intervention. Newsom called the move “deranged” and part of a politically motivated escalation theguardian.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed state concerns, highlighting that “peaceful situations” were made worse and declared the federal response a scheme to “create disorder” thetimes.co.uk+1nypost.com+1.
U.S. Marines & National Guard deployed to Los Angeles amid immigration‑related protests in 2025:
Federal Response & Rationale
The Trump administration defended the deployment, citing heightened threats to federal property and ICE agents. White House spokespeople accused California’s leadership of neglecting public safety theguardian.com+1cbsnews.com+1.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth supported the federalization under Title 10, stating that troops are needed because local forces are insufficient to safeguard federal interests cbsnews.com+4apnews.com+4theguardian.com+4.
Significance & Historical Context
This marks the first time in six decades that a President has overridden a Governor to deploy National Guard troops in a state without local request—the last comparable use was 1965 in Alabama wsj.com+10apnews.com+10nypost.com+10.
It’s also the first active-duty Marine deployment in a U.S. city for domestic civil unrest in over 30 years―a notable escalation apnews.com+15wsj.com+15reuters.com+15.
Critics warn this federal action breaches the Posse Comitatus Act and disrupts traditional civilian oversight of military forces.
On-the-Ground Situation
Protests persisted into a fourth day, with hundreds of arrests, injuries among protesters, police, and journalists, alongside scattered looting and property damage wsj.com+1apnews.com+1pt.wikipedia.org+5en.wikipedia.org+5theguardian.com+5.
Local law enforcement remains largely confident in their ability to manage the situation independently. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell noted the federal presence could complicate coordination efforts abcnews.go.com+1abc7.com+1.
What Happens Next?
The legal battle continues: California seeks an injunction to rescind the federal deployment, while the White House holds firm.
Protests may spread beyond Los Angeles, with Los Angeles officials warning of broader unrest if federal forces remain.
The Trump administration plans more ICE operations nationwide, highlighting the ongoing clash between federal enforcement and sanctuary advocates theguardian.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
🚨 Summary Table
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| National Guard | ~4,100 troops federalized under Title 10 |
| U.S. Marines | 700 active-duty Marines deployed from Twentynine Palms |
| Federal | Defend federal property, non-engagement with protesters |
| State & Local | Lawsuit filed; calls for rescinding deployments |
| Legal Issue | Possible Tenth Amendment, Posse Comitatus, Insurrection Act conflicts |
Big Picture
This mobilization highlights a fundamental clash: federal authority vs. state sovereignty, military vs. civilian authority, and political strategy vs. democratic norms. The question now is whether this marks a new precedent in domestic deployments—or a flashpoint that could reshape the balance of state and federal power in America’s cities.
theguardian.com
wsj.com
apnews.com