US Secretary of Defense hints at Marines’ role in tackling Los Angeles immigration unrest

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has indicated the possibility of deploying Marine Corps troops to Los Angeles, California, to help quell protests against the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

“The violent mob assaults on ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels [aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations] and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK,” Caliber.Az reports via Hegseth’s message on X.

“Under President Trump, violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It’s COMMON SENSE. The Department of Defense is mobilizing the National Guard IMMEDIATELY to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” he wrote.  

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to ongoing unrest linked to recent federal immigration raids, despite strong objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The deployment comes after two days of escalating protests in Los Angeles, where residents in predominantly Latino neighbourhoods clashed with federal ICE agents. The protests intensified following a series of ICE raids on June 7 that led to the detention of over 100 individuals across the city, including at businesses in the Fashion District and several Home Depot locations.

By Naila Huseynova