Roughly 700 Marines are deploying to the Los Angeles area to protect federal buildings and personnel in the wake of protests over immigration that have already led President Trump to federalize National Guard troops, the U.S. military said Monday.
The troops, which are assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., won’t engage with protesters
, U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in North America, said in a statement.
A senior administration official told reporters on Monday evening that the move came in light of increased threats against federal officers and federal buildings.
It is unclear how long the Marines will deploy, what kind of weapons they are authorized to carry or their specific orders, ‘cuz clarity & transparency.
Marines Are Deploying to L.A. Area in Wake of ICE Protests — The Wall Street Journal
Roughly 700 are being dispatched to protect federal personnel and property over the objections of Gov. Newsom
The Los Angeles deployment also comes on the heels of other steps in which Trump has used his executive authority to push the boundaries of using troops on U.S. soil. Those include authorizing active‑duty troops to detain migrants in newly created military zones along the southern border, using U.S. bases as detention areas and flying detainees out of the country on U.S. Air Force planes.
