More than 700 Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California have been activated to assist with the ongoing protests in Los Angeles. This mobilization adds to the thousands of National Guard troops recently deployed by President Donald Trump, who authorized their activation over the weekend without obtaining the approval of either California’s governor or the mayor of Los Angeles.
The full deployment of a Marine battalion indicates a notable escalation in the administration’s military response to civil unrest. However, details regarding the specific roles of these Marines in LA remain unclear, according to sources. They, like the National Guard troops, are restricted from performing law enforcement duties such as making arrests unless the Insurrection Act is invoked, which grants the president the authority to use military force against an insurrection.
The Marines belong to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, part of the 1st Marine Division. According to U.S. Northern Command, this activation is meant to provide sufficient personnel for Task Force 51, which is coordinating operations with federal authorities. A source familiar with the mobilization indicated that the Marines will enhance the National Guard’s presence on-site.
Currently, about 1,700 National Guard members are operational in the greater Los Angeles region, following Trump’s Saturday directive to deploy an additional 2,000 troops. On Monday evening, the Pentagon announced that he ordered an extra complement of 2,000 National Guard troops, although it is uncertain when these reinforcements will arrive in Los Angeles.
The Marines are expected to support the existing National Guard forces that have been stationed in LA over the past few days. While the source emphasized that the Marines are intended solely to supplement current operations, their mobilization amid domestic protests is significant, especially as it marks one of the rare instances since the 1992 Los Angeles riots that Marines have been activated in the U.S. for domestic scenarios.
Although specific tasks for the Marines have not been publicly detailed, potential assignments may include crowd control and perimeter security. Defense Department lawyers are working on formulating guidelines regarding the use of force for these troops, which are likely to align with the military’s existing rules.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly criticized the deployment as “unwarranted” and “unprecedented,” articulating concerns over mobilizing elite military forces against American citizens. He differentiated between “deployment” and “mobilization,” a point contested by U.S. Northern Command, which stated that the Marines will work in conjunction with the National Guard to protect federal personnel and property.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell has emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication among all the agencies involved in responding to the protests. He noted that past experiences with large-scale demonstrations underscore the need for coordination to avoid confusion and escalation during this critical period.
This article has been updated to reflect the latest developments in this situation.