The U.S. Northern Command said Sunday that 500 active duty United States Marines have been placed on a “ready to deploy” status to Los Angeles amid the protests that had erupted in the wake of ICE raids in the state.
2,000 National Guard troops were already deployed to the city by Donald Trump over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) who has called Trump’s actions “purposefully inflammatory.”
In Sunday’s statement, U.S. Northern Command said the active-duty Marines will serve as the last line of defense to protect federal property and personnel.
“Approximately 500 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, are in a prepared to deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support the DoD’s protection of federal property and personnel efforts,” USNORTHCOM said.
Earlier on Sunday Newsom called the potential deployment of US marines in his state “deranged.”
“The Secretary of Defense is now threatening to deploy active-duty Marines on American soil against its own citizens. This is deranged behavior,” Newsom wrote on X.
“Los Angeles: Remain peaceful. Don’t fall into the trap that extremists are hoping for,” the governor added.
