200 Marines Deployed to Protect Federal Sites in Los Angeles/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ About 200 Marines have been deployed to Los Angeles to protect federal property and personnel during immigration raid protests. The Marines, alongside 2,000 National Guard troops, will focus solely on defensive duties, not law enforcement. Opponents view the deployment as a federal power grab and question its constitutionality.
Marines Join LA Security Effort: Quick Looks
- 200 Marines deployed to guard federal buildings and personnel.
- Non-law enforcement role: Marines trained in civil disturbance, shifting to protection duties.
- Guard remains: National Guard troops continue supporting federal agents since last week.
- Constitutional challenge: Governor Newsom halted Guard deployment, calling it a power overreach.
- Growing unrest: Nearly 470 protesters arrested; demonstrations expected to persist.
200 Marines Deployed to Protect Federal Sites in Los Angeles
Deep Look
Marines Arrive to Protect Federal Sites
Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51, announced Friday that approximately 200 Marines have moved into Los Angeles to provide security for federal property and personnel. The Marines concluded civil disturbance training and assumed protective responsibilities at the downtown federal building that day.
Sherman clarified the Marines will not be involved in arrests or law enforcement. Instead, they will work alongside federal agents to secure government facilities and staff. Concurrently, around 2,000 National Guard troops remain deployed in the city since the immigration raids began.
Legal and Political Tensions
The Marine deployment followed a temporary block by a federal appeals court on a judge’s order directing the National Guard to return to state control, citing Tenth Amendment violations and executive overreach. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the federal troop presence, labeling it a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” President Trump justified his authority under rebellion statutes, although the Posse Comitatus Act legally bars active-duty troops from engaging in civilian law enforcement.
Sherman noted the Guard troops will continue protective roles but not detain anyone—a role limited to proper law enforcement agencies. He emphasized the Marines’ expertise in safeguarding U.S. government facilities, a responsibility they routinely perform internationally.
State Responses and National Implications
As protests are expected to continue, several states are preparing for similar deployments. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has placed 5,000 Guard members on alert for potential demonstrations. Meanwhile, a coalition of Democratic governors criticized the federal actions as an abuse of power.
Ongoing Protests and Arrests
Los Angeles authorities report around 470 arrests since the beginning of the demonstrations, predominantly for failing to disperse during curfews. A few arrests involved more serious allegations, including assault and possession of Molotov cocktails. Nine officers sustained minor injuries.
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