The tension in Los Angeles has escalated as active-duty Marines join National Guard troops amid protests. Around 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, stationed at Twentynine Palms, California, have been ordered to deploy to the city. This move follows President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to involve the military in response to immigration enforcement actions.
This significant military involvement highlights the administration’s approach to managing domestic unrest linked to immigration raids. The president’s decision, which bypasses state authorities, has drawn criticism from California officials. Both the governor and the city’s mayor have voiced their opposition to the military presence.
While the Marines are on their way to Los Angeles, the Pentagon has not clarified their specific mission or the duration of their stay. The deployment is a response to protests spurred by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that resulted in 118 arrests of individuals believed to be undocumented immigrants. These actions have led to public outcry and protests, some escalating into violence.
President Trump has taken unprecedented steps by assuming control of California National Guard units, specifically the 97th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, to manage the situation. This move has not been seen since the Civil Rights era, where federal intervention overrode state opposition.
Critics, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have condemned the deployment, arguing it infringes on state rights. Newsom has announced plans to file a lawsuit against the federal government, stating, “Commandeering a state’s National Guard without consulting the governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” as reported by The Associated Press.
The National Guard, often tasked with domestic response, typically lacks extensive law enforcement training, focusing more on combat readiness for overseas duty. Despite this, around 2,000 soldiers, including units from the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, and the 185th Infantry Regiment, are already on the ground, expected to remain for up to 60 days.
Overseeing the military operations in Los Angeles is a two-star general assigned by the Pentagon, leading under the designation “Task Force 51.” However, the identity of this commander has not been disclosed, a departure from usual practices where senior military officers’ names are typically made public.
