The Pentagon announced Tuesday the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, reducing nearly half of the 4,000 troops deployed since early June to support federal immigration raids.
The decision, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, comes amid ongoing legal challenges and protests against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated the move reflects subsiding “lawlessness” in the city, though no specific reason for the timing was provided.
The remaining troops, including 700 Marines, continue operations, with their duration unclear.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass hailed the withdrawal as a “retreat,” attributing it to unified community efforts.
“This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong,” Bass said, emphasizing the role of peaceful protests and a lawsuit that secured a federal judge’s order barring detentions based solely on race or language.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, however, criticized the continued presence of federalized troops, arguing they are diverted from critical state duties like wildfire response.
He noted that National Guard firefighting crews are operating at 40% capacity due to the deployment.
The deployment, initiated against Newsom’s wishes, has sparked legal disputes, with a federal appeals court allowing Trump to retain control of California’s National Guard.
This marks the first such federalization since 1965.
Newsom has argued the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
While the Department of Homeland Security reports 2,792 arrests of undocumented immigrants, local officials and residents remain critical, citing fear-driven operations like one at MacArthur Park.
As Los Angeles, a sanctuary city, navigates these tensions, the debate over federal military involvement in immigration enforcement continues.