Marine Corps Decreases Presence in Los Angeles After Months of Tension
Following months of intense and sometimes controversial actions surrounding the U.S.
federal response to protests and immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles, the Pentagon has announced plans to reduce the military footprint in the city.
Over seven hundred Marines, dispatched last month in response to widespread demonstrations against increased immigration enforcement and ICE raids, are now being ordered to return to their bases.
According to official sources, this decision comes as a result of stabilizing conditions and confidence that public order has been restored and security is maintained.
Despite the drawdown, questions about the scale of military presence in Los Angeles and its implications remain a topic of heated political debate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal critic of any military deployment within the city, alleging that such actions are politically motivated and escalate tensions.
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles also supported the withdrawal, stating that the military deployment was unnecessary and that city residents' voices had been heard.
She emphasized that the military personnel no longer serve a direct purpose and their departure signals the city’s ability to handle challenges independently.
The Department of Defense has not specified an exact date for the final withdrawal, but sources indicate that the Marines are expected to return to their base at Tuentain Palms in the coming days.
Currently, around two thousand service members remain in Los Angeles, overseeing ICE raids, with an additional 150 allowed to stay to assist with firefighting efforts throughout California.
The ongoing political discord, however, continues to complicate the full conclusion of military involvement and raises questions about the use of armed forces in internal political conflicts.