The Pentagon deployed approximately 700 U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, based at Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton, California, to Los Angeles to support National Guard operations amid protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.
The Northern Command stated that the Marines will “seamlessly integrate” with hundreds of National Guard members to protect “federal personnel and federal property.” They have been trained in “de-escalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force,” the military added.
Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend to support #USNORTHCOM mission, prepare to depart for the greater Los Angeles area June 9. pic.twitter.com/xUDw0byvqd
— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) June 9, 2025
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said Monday that around 700 Marines “are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order.” Donald Trump has defended his decision to deploy the National Guard while California Governor Gavin Newsom sues the administration over the move. Newsom said, “U.S. Marines have served honourably across multiple wars in defense of democracy. They are heroes. They shouldn’t be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President.”
Another 2,000 National Guards heading to LA: Pentagon
The Pentagon’s chief spokesman Sean Parnell has confirmed that another 2,000 National Guardsmen have been federalised to head to Los Angeles.
“At the order of the President, the Department of Defense is mobilising an additional 2,000 California National Guard to be called into federal service to support ICE (and) to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties,” Parnell says.
Demonstrations began outside in downtown LA on Friday after it emerged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids across the city.
Trump said the troop deployment in Los Angeles is expected to last 60 days, according to California’s adjutant general.
