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Half the National Guard troops sent to LA in response to ICE-related protests will be released
U.S. National Guard are deployed outside the federal prison in downtown Los Angeles on June 8, 2025.
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Jae Hong
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AP
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Topline:
Half the 4,000 National Guard troops that were sent to L.A. in response to protests against immigration enforcement will be released from duty, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.
Background: Last month, the Trump administration deployed 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, and 700 Marines in response to the immigration enforcement protests. The Trump administration said the deployment was necessary to protect federal agents and buildings.
State and local officials say: Gov. Gavin Newsom has spoken out against the deployment, calling it a political move by the president. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has also said that the military presence in the city felt “provocative.”
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Federal officials say: “Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding,” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement. However, local officials, journalists, and other witnesses have said protests have been mostly peaceful since they started early last month in response to the immigration activity.
Local response: In a statement, Bass said the troops were being released "because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court — all of this led to today’s retreat. My message today to Angelenos is clear — I will never stop fighting for this city. We will not stop making our voices heard until this ends, not just here in L.A., but throughout our country.”
What’s next: California has sued the Trump administration over whether it was legal to deploy federal troops. In their lawsuit, the governor and Attorney General Rob Bonta argue the move violated the limits on federal power. The ongoing case is still being worked out after a federal appeals court ruled that the president can keep control over the National Guard in L.A.
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