The Pentagon announced on Monday (July 21) that the 700 Marines deployed to Los Angeles will soon be withdrawing, ending their five-week immigration enforcement mission.
These troops are from the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment at Twentynine Palms in California, and have been stationed since June 9, responsible for protecting federal facilities and assisting in maintaining social order.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell stated, “With Los Angeles returning to stability, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of these Marines. Their deployment sends a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated.”
Parnell emphasized that while most Marines have stayed out of the public eye since their deployment, their presence has played a significant role in rebuilding order and upholding the rule of law.
This troop withdrawal is the latest move in the Trump administration’s reduction of military deployments. Previously, about 4,100 California National Guard members were mobilized to Los Angeles by Trump, followed by an additional 700 Marines, to handle street protests sparked by immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. According to the authorization, all forces could be stationed for up to 60 days.
Protests began on June 7, with large crowds gathering outside the federal building in downtown Los Angeles to protest ICE raids on local businesses. Trump stated the military deployment was to prevent the city from “burning,” but California and local officials accused the military of escalating tensions.
Reportedly, the Marines were mainly stationed outside federal buildings for guard duty, while the National Guard worked directly with ICE agents. For example, around 90 guardsmen equipped with Humvees supported ICE’s sweeps at MacArthur Park on July 7, and 300 were involved in raids on illegal marijuana farms in Riverside County.
As protests in Los Angeles gradually subside, last week, Hegseth ordered 2,000 National Guard members to return to their base, with 2,000 remaining to assist ICE in immigration enforcement operations. In addition, 150 members were redeployed to other areas in California to participate in state wildfire prevention efforts.
The Pentagon has not disclosed a specific withdrawal timeline, but according to officials quoted by The Washington Post, these Marines are expected to return to the Twentynine Palms base in the coming days.
(This article referenced reports from The Star-Spangled Banner and The Capitol Hill Reporter)