JD Vance Advocates for Military Presence to Maintain Order Amid LA Protests

The Pentagon recently confirmed that approximately 700 active-duty Marines who were stationed in Los Angeles to support law enforcement during protests earlier this summer will be heading back home. The Secretary of Defense, through Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, stated that the decision to withdraw the Marines was made as stability returns to the city, emphasizing that their deployment was meant to convey that lawlessness would not be tolerated.

These Marines, part of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, were deployed in June amid a wave of protests against immigration policies, which at times escalated into violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement. Such a military presence on city streets is uncommon, especially alongside the federalization of the National Guard, which occurred despite opposition from California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom. Newsom criticized the need for this military intervention, stating that it could potentially worsen the situation and subsequently filed a lawsuit regarding the National Guard's deployment, claiming that President Trump acted unlawfully by neglecting to consult him.

In response to inquiries about the criteria for stationing active-duty Marines, President Trump indicated that decisions are made based on his judgment regarding the safety risks to citizens. Alongside the Marine withdrawal, the Pentagon also released a significant portion of the National Guard troops, though around 2,000 guardsmen remain in the Los Angeles area specifically to protect federal properties and personnel during law enforcement operations. Although protests against immigration have largely decreased since June, enforcement actions, including ICE raids, continue.