The Trump administration is walking back a controversial move to flood Los Angeles with federal troops, ordering 2,000 National Guard soldiers to return home after fierce public backlash, court battles, and logistical pressure from state officials.
In June, the administration sent 4,000 National Guard members and about 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to rising protests tied to an increase in immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But the surprise deployment, carried out without approval from California Governor Gavin Newsom, sparked immediate outcry.
California leaders filed a lawsuit claiming the deployment was unlawful and escalated community tensions. They also blasted the decision for straining resources as the state entered its peak wildfire season. “When the state faces simultaneous emergencies, the National Guard’s resources can be stretched thin,” the lawsuit stated.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the withdrawal in a statement to The Hill: “Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding. As such, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the move, crediting local efforts for pushing the administration to reverse course. “This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong,” Bass said. “We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court — all of this led to today’s retreat.”
“My message today to Angelenos is clear — I will never stop fighting for this city. We will not stop making our voices heard until this ends, not just here in LA, but throughout our country,” she added.
Just days earlier, 150 Guard members had already been pulled from L.A. to help battle wildfires across California. The pressure to reallocate resources made the troop presence harder to justify.
Meanwhile, Governor Newsom praised a federal court decision that blocked officials from using race, language, or employment as grounds for immigration enforcement. The ruling also forced the Department of Homeland Security to provide legal access to detainees.
“The court’s decision puts a temporary stop to federal immigration officials violating people’s rights and racial profiling,” Newsom wrote on Twitter. “California stands with the law and the Constitution — and I call on the Trump Administration to do the same.”
The dramatic drawdown highlights growing friction between federal immigration enforcement and state autonomy, especially in liberal-leaning states like California, where pushback has been loud, legal, and increasingly successful.
