President Donald Trump’s deploys 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles.
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s administration has announced the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to continued protests. The troops will protect federal property and personnel, and accompany ICE agents during immigration enforcement actions.
The National Guard, drawn mainly from California, consists of part-time soldiers trained in emergency response. Marines, active-duty troops from Twentynine Palms, are typically deployed globally but will now assist domestically under Task Force 51.
Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code to authorize the deployment, allowing the federalization of the National Guard during national emergencies. According to Major General Scott Sherman, troops may detain individuals posing threats but cannot perform arrests.
The Marines will undergo two days of civil disturbance training. Both forces will be equipped with shields and batons, and Marines will carry rifles without loaded ammunition. “They will carry it,” Sherman confirmed, “but not load it.”