Jun 12, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Marines will deploy to LA protests this week after crowd control training

Avery Lotz

Protesters hold signs while one lifts an American flag while California National Guardsmen stand guard. — Protesters confront California National Guard soldiers and police outside of a federal building on June 9 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

The 700 Marines sent to the Los Angeles area following days of protests have completed their training and will be join other troops within 48 hours of Wednesday, U.S. Northern Command said.

The big picture: Another 2,000 National Guard members will be deployed alongside the 2,100 troops who have already been sent to Los Angeles, NORTHCOM said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has fiercely opposed the Trump administration's deployment of Guard members and Marines, challenging the president in court and online.

Driving the news: The Marines' training included "de-escalation, crowd-control, and understanding the Standing Rules for the Use of Force," according to NORTHCOM.

Context: Their mission is to protect federal personnel and property in the area, not to do "law enforcement functions."

They "have accompanied ICE on missions, but they are not a part of the operations," per NORTHCOM.
"They protect; they don't participate," the statement emphasized.

Yes, but: The Trump administration says the National Guard can temporarily detain people in some cases.

According to NORTHCOM, those circumstances include stopping an assault, preventing harm to others or halting interference with federal personnel.
That detention would end when the individual can be "safely transferred" to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement.
Under the Posse Comitatus Act, federal troops are barred from participating in civilian law enforcement, except when they are expressly authorized under law, per the Brennan Center for Justice.

What they're saying: The Los Angeles Police Department declined to comment on whether it will coordinate with the Marines and National Guard in response to a question from Axios Wednesday.

Zoom out: The protests have ignited demonstrations across the country denouncing the Trump administration's aggressive mass deportation push.

While there have been reports of standoffs between police and demonstrators and hundreds of arrests in the LA area and beyond, many protests have been largely peaceful.
Nearly half of U.S. adults (47%) disapprove of deploying the Marines to LA, while 34% said they approve, according to recent polling.

Go deeper: National Guard in LA: What they can do after Trump called them in to quell protests

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Marines will deploy to LA protests this week after crowd control training

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