Los Angeles, July 10, 2025 – President Donald Trump has ordered about 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to help National Guard troops amid protests against immigration raids, according to news reports. The Marines began arriving in the city on Monday, June 9.
The Associated Press and BBC reported that the Marines were sent to support the National Guard, which has been in Los Angeles since Sunday, June 8. An additional 2,000 National Guard troops are also heading to the city to manage the ongoing protests, the AP said. The Guardian noted that the Marines are being deployed temporarily until more National Guard troops can arrive.
The protests started on Friday, June 6, after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began arresting people in Los Angeles. The Guardian reported that ICE has been making up to 2,000 arrests per day recently. These raids have led to clashes between protesters and police, especially in the Latino-majority Paramount area, where authorities used tear gas to break up crowds, according to the BBC. Dozens of protesters were arrested over the weekend.
California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly criticized the decision to send Marines. In a post on X, he said, “Moving Marines from one base to another is not the same as deploying them. This escalation is unnecessary and unprecedented. Using our top military branch against our own people is wrong.” California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has filed a lawsuit to stop the use of National Guard troops, claiming it’s against the law, the AP reported.
The Marines are not allowed to act as police unless President Trump uses a law called the Insurrection Act, two defense officials told Politico. For now, the U.S. Northern Command said the Marines will only protect federal buildings and workers, including ICE agents, the AP reported. Some Marines are coming from Twentynine Palms, about 142 miles east of Los Angeles, while others are from Camp Pendleton, 90 miles south, according to The Los Angeles Times and Politico.
President Trump called the protesters “insurrectionists” on Monday, a term that could allow him to use the Insurrection Act to give Marines more power to respond to protests, The New York Times reported. This has raised concerns among California leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who said the military presence is causing more tension in the city.