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Los Angeles

Thousands of federal troops were deployed to Los Angeles since June 7. In the first 40 days of this military operation, the more than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and Marines carried out exactly one temporary detainment. The deployment had over 4,000 troops involved at its peak, costing taxpayers approximately $120 million. On September 2, 2025, a federal judge ruled that the administration's use of these troops for law enforcement activities violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic policing. Despite the ruling, hundreds of troops remained in the city amid ongoing litigation, with the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California stating that the military presence would continue to safeguard federal properties and personnel, without direct engagement in arrests or crowd control.

As of mid-September 2025, around 250 National Guard troops were still stationed in LA as the state's lawsuit against the deployment proceeded. This LA deployment has been cited as part of a broader pattern of federal military actions in U.S. cities under Trump, including recent moves in Portland, Chicago, and Memphis, often justified as responses to crime or unrest but criticized as overreach. On October 1, 2025, reports emerged of a federal agent involved in a dispute and attack investigation near critical infrastructure in downtown LA (including Union Station, City Hall, and the LA Department of Water and Power headquarters), prompting a request for LAPD backup—though this appears unrelated to large-scale troop movements.

In June 2025, President Trump deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, ostensibly to respond to protests against immigration raids and to protect federal personnel and property. This deployment occurred over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom. On September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act in its deployment of military forces, stating there "was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law".

In the first 40 days of deployment, the more than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and Marines carried out exactly one temporary detainment. Thousands of Federal Troops in LA Spent 40 Days Doing Nothing — reportedly an army veteran who crossed a yellow tape boundary on his way to an office of the Department of Veterans Affairs. In July 2025, the Pentagon announced it was ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops, accounting for nearly half of the soldiers sent to Los Angeles. By late July, nearly all troops had demobilized, with only about 300 remaining. Nearly all National Guard soldiers in Los Angeles are demobilizing, Governor Newsom demands those remaining be released | Governor of California. The deployment sparked significant controversy over presidential authority, military involvement in domestic affairs, and the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits using federal forces for civilian law enforcement.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. PDT on June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids within the Los Angeles Fashion District and at other locations including a clothing wholesaler and a Home Depot in Westlake. Agents present included personnel from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. These raids resulted in 44 arrests for suspected immigration violations and one arrest for obstruction.

Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, stated there were seven raids in which 45 people had been detained. Clashes occurred between protesters and ICE agents in riot gear near the Westlake Home Depot.

Crowds formed in the evening outside the Metropolitan Detention Center. Approximately 200 protesters remained at the facility by 7 p.m., when the Los Angeles Police Department declared the protest to be an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse. After some protesters hurled chunks of broken concrete toward officers, the LAPD engaged in intense standoffs in which tear gas, pepper spray, and flash bangs were deployed June 2025 Los Angeles protests.

The largest protest started across the street from a Home Depot in the city of Paramount as federal agents were staging in adjacent offices. Law enforcement used less-than-lethal munitions, as well as tear gas, in efforts to disperse crowds. Photos captured several Waymo robotaxis set on fire Trump deploys National Guard in L.A. amid protests over immigration raids. In Compton, a car was set ablaze in the middle of the intersection of Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue Trump deploys National Guard in L.A. amid protests over immigration raids.

President Trump's June 7 memorandum authorized the federalization and deployment of National Guard forces, as well as the deployment of active-duty armed forces, anywhere in the country where protests over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity or other federal functions are either occurring or likely to occur. This authorization was not limited to protests involving violence, vandalism, obstruction of law enforcement, or any other form of misconduct What to Know About the Los Angeles Military Deployment | Brennan Center for Justice.

On June 7, President Donald Trump federalized the California National Guard, calling for 2,000 guard members to deploy to the city under Joint Task Force 51. Trump signed the memo arguing the deployment was necessary to combat the "lawlessness" in Los Angeles Trump deploys National Guard in L.A. amid protests over immigration raids. On June 9, the president authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members, and the Pentagon activated 700 Marines to deploy to the city, who arrived the next day. Under this memorandum, 4,000 California National Guard forces were federalized and more than 2,000 of them were deployed to Los Angeles along with a battalion of 700 U.S. Marines.

Trump relied on Section 12406 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which authorizes the president to federalize Guard forces in three circumstances: the United States is invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation; there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the government; or the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. To deploy the U.S. Marines, Trump relied on a claim of inherent constitutional authority to deploy troops to protect federal personnel, functions, and property when the appropriate civil authorities are unable to preserve order. This is a long-standing executive branch legal theory reflected primarily in opinions of the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, but courts have not officially endorsed the theory.

The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits federal armed forces—including federalized National Guard forces—from directly participating in law enforcement activities unless expressly authorized by Congress or the Constitution. It's not clear whether Section 12406 provides any authority to deploy National Guard forces for law enforcement activities that would normally be forbidden by the Posse Comitatus Act.

On September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act in its deployment of military forces, and that the rationale for deployment was contrived, writing that "there was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law". The district court judge found that the conditions required by Section 12406 were not met in Los Angeles. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, applying an extremely deferential standard of review, accepted Trump's determination that he was "unable with the regular forces" to execute the law, notwithstanding the administration's failure to provide any evidence that any ICE raids were thwarted or that planned ICE raids had to be canceled.

On June 13, the Department of Defense confirmed that Marines apprehended and briefly detained a civilian—reportedly an army veteran who crossed a yellow tape boundary on his way to an office of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Video of the incident shows Marines in full combat gear and automatic weapons zip-tying an unresisting man—clad in shorts, a T-shirt, and sunglasses—on the ground. At one point, the detainee, with his hands bound behind him, was surrounded by no fewer than six Marines and two other officials.

Troops in Los Angeles not only guarded federal detention facilities, but also accompanied ICE personnel on their raids of private establishments. Video footage showed Marines physically pushing a crowd of protesters back as they stood on the stairs of the Federal Building. Immigration and Customs Enforcement posted images showing officers detaining individuals in Los Angeles while surrounded by National Guard troops, in what appeared to be the first photos marking the Guard involved in ICE operations June 10, 2025.

Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass argued the deployment was unnecessary and could escalate tensions. Newsom accused Trump's administration of using the deployment to create a "spectacle" and called the immigration arrests a "chaotic" attempt to sow chaos and escalate tensions Trump deploys National Guard in L.A. amid protests over immigration raids. Newsom stated in July that the National Guard's deployment to Los Angeles County pulled troops away from their families and civilian work "to serve as political pawns for the President," adding that the remaining troops "continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities" Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. Governor Newsom stated the troops already in Southern California came without sufficient support. Images showed dozens of troops lying in what appeared to be federal building basements or loading docks, attempting to sleep on the floor. The troops arrived without federal funding for food, water, fuel, equipment or lodging Military deployed to Los Angeles amid protests will cost $134M | KTLA.

President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles was estimated to cost about $134 million. The estimate was largely based on costs of housing, travel and food for the troops. The deployment, comprising 4,000 members of the California National Guard and about 700 Marines, was funded by the military's Operation & Maintenance accounts. With the total deployment of 4,100 National Guard members and 700 Marines for a 60-day period, that equated to just under $28,000 per troop. The Title 10 deployment of more than 4,200 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines cost $71 million for food and other basic necessities, $37 million in payroll, more than $4 million in logistics supplies, $3.5 million in travel, and $1.5 million in demobilization costs, which added up to an estimated $118 million. However, other estimates placed the total cost at nearly $120 million.

After the federal government deployed the military and began ramping up immigration raids statewide, the number of people reporting to work in the private sector in California decreased by 3.1%—a downturn only recently matched by the period when people stayed home from work during the COVID-19 lockdown. Mass arrests, detentions, and deportations in California could cost the state's economy $275 billion and eliminate $23 billion in annual tax revenue. The loss of immigrant workers would hinder projects like rebuilding Los Angeles after wildfires, reduce food supply, and increase costs. Analysis found that people showing up to work declined about 3% starting with the deployment in Los Angeles Considering the economic impact of the President’s law enforcement measures in DC.

In mid-July 2025, the Pentagon announced it was ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, accounting for nearly half of the soldiers sent to the city. Roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines had been in the city since early June Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated: "Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding" Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles.

By late July 2025, nearly two months after the federalization, all but 300 National Guard members were expected to go home. So far, 4,700 soldiers had demobilized or begun demobilizing Nearly all National Guard soldiers in Los Angeles are demobilizing, Governor Newsom demands those remaining be released | Governor of California. Mayor Bass applauded the troops' departure, stating: "This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court—all of this led to today's retreat" Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles.

Trump's memorandum did not limit the deployment of troops to Los Angeles; it authorized deployment at locations where protests against ICE activities or any other federal functions are occurring or are likely to occur, with no requirement that the protests involve violence or obstruction. A nationwide preemptive deployment to address any protests against any federal activities is wholly unprecedented in U.S. history and poses a grave threat to the First Amendment right to engage in peaceful protest.

Deployments began in Los Angeles in June 2025 and expanded to Washington, DC in August 2025, before presidential authorizations were issued to expand to Memphis, Tennessee and Portland, Oregon in September 2025, with plans for Chicago, Illinois and potentially other cities like New York, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Oakland. This deployment represented one of the most controversial uses of federal military force on U.S. soil in recent history, ultimately costing over $120 million while resulting in minimal actual military activity, and raising serious constitutional questions about the limits of presidential authority and the protection of civil liberties.