Pentagon Withdraws 2,000 National Guard Troops from Los Angeles Amid Protests and Local Measures
The Pentagon has withdrawn 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles following successful local measures to restore order amid immigration protests and political pressure.
Overview
- The Pentagon has withdrawn 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, ending their deployment after local officials restored order.
- President Trump initially ordered the deployment of troops to enforce immigration policies, despite opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom.
- Governor Newsom criticized the federal troop presence, leading to a lawsuit over the legality of the deployment.
- Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew that successfully restored order, contributing to the decision to withdraw troops.
- Newsom raised concerns about National Guard understaffing during wildfire season, prompting the return of troops to firefighting duties.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the National Guard withdrawal as a "major rollback" of a "militarized response" to protests, emphasizing the controversial nature of the initial deployment. They highlight strong opposition from California officials and the unusual historical context, portraying the withdrawal as a positive outcome driven by public and political pressure against an overreach of authority.
"Mayor Karen Bass applauded the troops’ departure, stating that it was a result of the people of Los Angeles standing united and strong against the Trump administration's actions."
Fortune"The end of the deployment comes a week after federal authorities and National Guard troops arrived at MacArthur Park with guns and horses in an operation that ended abruptly."
NPR"While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilize, the remaining guardsmembers continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities."
CBS News"The deployment marked the first time a president had federalized National Guard troops without a governor’s permission since 1965."
NBC News"The end of the deployment comes a week after federal authorities and National Guard troops arrived at MacArthur Park with guns and horses in an operation that ended abruptly."
Associated Press"The deployment was decried by the state's Democratic lawmakers, who have called an overreach of presidential authority and accused Trump of inciting violence."
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FAQ
National Guard troops were initially deployed to Los Angeles in early June by President Donald Trump to protect federal buildings and personnel during protests triggered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, amid claims that local law enforcement failed to adequately protect ICE agents.
Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the deployment, calling it an "unprecedented power grab" and filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the federalization of the National Guard in California. He also expressed concerns about understaffing of the National Guard during wildfire season and criticized the deployment as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Local officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, implemented measures such as curfews and organized peaceful protests and rallies that helped restore order. These actions, combined with successful legal challenges, were credited for reducing unrest and contributed to the federal decision to begin withdrawing National Guard troops.
A federal judge initially ruled in favor of Governor Newsom's challenge to the deployment, blocking it temporarily, but an appeals court later overturned that decision, ruling that President Trump likely acted within his authority to federalize the National Guard during the unrest, allowing the mission to continue.
The Pentagon stated that due to successful efforts restoring order in Los Angeles and the subsiding lawlessness, it ordered the demobilization of about 2,000 National Guard troops from the federal mission. Additionally, concerns about National Guard shortages during wildfire season prompted the return of some troops to firefighting duties.
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