MWE Correspondent
The Trump administration has begun withdrawing 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, weeks after their controversial deployment in response to widespread immigration protests and civil unrest triggered by federal enforcement operations.
This marks a partial pullback of the roughly 4,000 troops—comprising both Guard members and U.S. Marines—originally sent to the area under federal orders issued by President Donald Trump. The deployment, made under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, bypassed California’s state authority and drew intense legal and political opposition.
“Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.
The troop deployment was intended to restore order following protests over aggressive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. Critics described the raids as excessive and traumatizing, especially for families with undocumented members.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass immediately condemned the federal action. They argued that the military response was disproportionate and potentially unlawful, citing the historic protections of the Posse Comitatus Act—which limits the use of U.S. military forces in domestic policing.
Legal challenges quickly followed. While a lower court initially sided with the state, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals later ruled that the federal government acted within its constitutional powers, allowing the troops to remain.
The decision to begin withdrawing forces has been welcomed by local leaders and human rights organizations. ACLU officials, faith leaders, and immigrant advocates emphasized the importance of peaceful protest and community organizing in defending civil liberties.
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“Military presence in our streets doesn’t make us safer—it intimidates residents and escalates fear,” said Rosa Martinez, a community organizer in East LA.
Despite the announced drawdown, approximately 2,000 troops and 700 Marines will continue to secure federal installations, including courthouses and ICE field offices. Pentagon officials have yet to release a timeline for a full withdrawal.
Governor Newsom has reiterated his demand that all forces leave, labeling the remaining troops “political pawns” in a federal attempt to overreach into state governance.
This deployment—and now partial withdrawal—has reopened a national debate about the balance of power between federal and state governments, particularly during times of civil unrest.
Legal scholars argue that the episode could set a precedent for expanded use of military force in domestic settings, challenging long-standing norms established by laws such as the Insurrection Act and Federalism in the United States.
At the same time, the backlash reflects growing concerns about how immigration enforcement intersects with civil rights, particularly in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles.
