Unexpected Termination: Half of LA’s Military Presence Ends Abruptly

About 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines have been positioned in the city from the dawn of June. The Department of Defense announced on a recent Tuesday that it will be terminating the stationing of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. This act nullifies nearly half of the military presence in the city, originally appointed to address the civil unrest triggered by the Trump administration’s stern policies on immigration. At this moment, it remains unclear what brought about the unexpected and sudden cessation of this 60-day deployment, and the duration of stay for the remaining troops in the area is still undecided.

In the fading days of June, the highest ranking military officer responsible for the troops deployed to LA requested for 200 of them to be reassigned to counter the growing wildfire crisis. Governor Newsom had cautioned that the National Guard was inadequately staffed as California braced itself for the maximum wildfire season. The termination of troop placement occurred only a week subsequent to the arrival of federal officers and National Guard soldiers at MacArthur Park equipped with weapons and horses, marking an operation that was abruptly concluded.

There was no commentary from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security explaining the reason for their operation in the park, nor any information regarding any arrests which might have taken place. Local officials commented on the situation, remarking that the operation appeared to be a deliberate attempt to incite fright among the residents. The cessation of the military deployment happened following this unexpected arrival of the troops at the park.

On the 8th of June, the city witnessed an enormous outpour of protesters on streets in opposition to Trump’s decision of deploying the Guard. A significant freeway was barricaded by the masses as the law enforcement agencies tried to manage the swelling crowd with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs. The very next day, police had to resort to using flash bangs and shooting projectiles to steer the protesters through Little Tokyo. The unexpected debacle caused bystanders and restaurant workers to hastily evacuate the area.

Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew that engulfed the city for about a week. She stated that this step was successful in safeguarding businesses and restoring normalcy. In the following weeks, the city and surrounding regions saw a visible decrease in large-scale protests with only small spontaneous demonstrations cropping up sporadically, generally in response to police actions.

The duty assigned to the majority of the Marines includes protection of federal assets, while hundreds from the National Guard have been aiding agents on immigration operations. President Donald Trump made the order for the deployment, despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. The latter took legal measures to halt Trump’s directive.

Newsom approached the courts to restrain Trump’s command over the California National Guard, asserting that Trump had overstepped his authority by deploying the troops in spite of his disapproval. He further expressed concerns that the domestic deployment of the National Guard could be breaching the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military personnel from undertaking civilian law enforcement procedures on U.S. soil.

Newsom experienced a preliminary triumph in the lawsuit as a federal judge declared the Guard deployment to be unlawful and beyond Trump’s jurisdiction. However, an appellate court overturned this decision, resulting in the continued control of the troops under the federal government. The federal court will be hearing arguments related to breaches of the Posse Comitatus Act in the forthcoming month.

The National Guard troops were to be deployed for a 60-day tenure, with the Defense Secretary possessing the authority to curtail or prolong this period depending on the developing circumstances. Following the Department of Defense’s Tuesday announcement, Newsom expressed his concerns, stating that the deployment to Los Angeles County has forced troops away from their civilian lives and families.

Newsom articulated his worries about the remaining troops who continue their service without an explicit mission, direction, or any chances of returning to assist their local communities. Echoing the sentiments of many, the governor said, ‘We call on Trump and the Department of Defense to conclude this charade and bring all the troops home without further ado.’

Whether the National Guard soldiers will be permitted to return home yet, or be assigned new tasks in the foreseeable future remains to be seen. Meanwhile, residents of Los Angeles and other affected areas continue to live heightened lives amidst these uncertain circumstances, awaiting steadfast decisions for a return to normalcy.