The Pentagon is working to establish guidelines for U.S. Marines who may face the challenging task of using force against citizens on American soil. This comes as the Trump administration deploys active-duty troops to immigration raid protests in Los Angeles. U.S. Northern Command announced that 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, based in Twentynine Palms, California, will join approximately 4,100 National Guard members in the area to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents.
The Marines, trained in de-escalation and crowd control, will be armed with standard service weapons but not tear gas. They will also have protective gear like helmets and shields. According to a U.S. official, warning shots are prohibited, and Marines are directed to de-escalate situations but can act in self-defense. The Pentagon is also drafting a memo to clarify the steps Marines can take to protect federal personnel and property, including temporarily detaining civilians if necessary.
The deployment has sparked controversy, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling it “a blatant abuse of power” and planning to sue to block the Marines’ deployment. The use of military force on domestic soil is rare, and deploying Marines without invoking the Insurrection Act raises legal concerns. The Insurrection Act allows the president to use federal troops for law enforcement in national emergencies, but it has not been invoked in this case.
Protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies have spread to other cities, including San Francisco and Austin. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, some have resulted in arrests and clashes with law enforcement. President Trump defended the deployment, stating it was necessary to prevent chaos in Los Angeles.
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