Around 700 U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, based in Twentynine Palms, have been ordered to deploy to the Los Angeles area.
The deployment is in response to violent protests against immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles.
The big picture: The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, typically specializes in close combat with enemy forces but has been trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and standing rules for the use of force for this specific mission.
- The deployed Marines and National Guard troops are focused on protecting federal personnel and property in the greater Los Angeles area.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the deployment, stating that Marines shouldn’t be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the “deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President.”
