Marines Ordered To Leave LA: Pentagon Claims They Restored Order, Mayor Calls Them Political Pawns

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Pentagon is further reducing the military presence in the city: Hundreds of U.S. Marines that were sent to the area amid unrest sparked by immigration-enforcement raids are being withdrawn and returned to their normal duties.

Trump on June 7 ordered that 2,000 California National Guard members be deployed to Los Angeles and later ordered another 2,000 Guard members and 700 Marines to the city. Half of those Guard members were ordered to withdraw last week. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has since ordered all the Marines to exit the city, a spokesman said Monday.

"With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will no be tolerated," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. "Their rapid response, unwavering discipline and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law. We're deeply grateful for their service, and for the strength and professionalism they brought to this mission."

The Marine withdrawal was expected to be completed as soon as Tuesday.

Local and state officials have fought against the deployment of the Guard members and Marines.

While the troops were initially deployed to protect federal buildings during the unrest, according to federal officials, more recently they've been used to support raids by federal immigration authorities.

That includes a large-scale raid at MacArthur Parkearlier this month that Newsom called "cruel" political theater.

Normally under the control of Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Trump administration took control of the Guard at the fierce opposition of the governor. State officials have been fighting the move in court, calling the operation unlawful and a misuse of military force. A judge ruled in favor of the federal government.

The news about the withdrawal of the Marines followed a morning news conference in which LA Mayor Karen Bass and state Sen. Caroline Mejivar, D-Panorama City, called for the removal of troops. Bass later lauded the withdrawal.

"We just had a press conference calling for the removal of all of the troops, and we just got word that the Marines will be able to go back to their families and will be leaving Los Angeles," Bass said. "I'd like to say that they heard from the people of Los Angeles."

Mejivar, who served in the Marine Corps from 2009-16, said that the deployment of troops to L.A. was unnecessary.

Bass emphasized that Los Angeles needs the National Guard to assist and prepare for fire season, not for immigration enforcement and related protests.

"The administration, we know, has retreated some of the forces, but we need all the troops to return home and to not be here, to not be used as political stunts, to not be used to intimidate Angelenos, and to not be used as pawns," Bass said.

Menjivar echoed the mayor's sentiments, saying, "This is why it was so personal and infuriating to me to see 700 of my brothers and sisters in the corps deployed to my backyard because we did not sign up to intimidate and potentially take military action against Americans on American soil, who are exercising their constitutional right to protest."

Menjivar served in the Marine Corps from 2009 to 2016 and was stationed in Miramar, La Jolla, as a radio operator and communications platoon sergeant.

She also criticized the Trump administration for spending what she said was about $134 million taxpayer dollars with the deployment of troops to Los Angeles.

Vet Voice Foundation CEO Janessa Goldbeck, a national nonprofit, who served in the Marine Corps as a combat engineer officer, said the deployment of active-duty marines and National Guard troops in support of domestic immigration enforcement is not a routine operation.

"It is a break with longstanding norms and a decision that should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation," Goldbeck said.

"...The job of the American military is to fight and win wars, not police American neighborhoods," Goldbeck added. "When we blur that line, we don't just risk overreach. We risk something deeper, the erosion of public trust in both our armed forces and in our democratic institutions."

City News Service contributed to this report.