The Trump administration has announced the termination of the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the decision in a released statement.
Approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were initially deployed. The duration of the remaining troops’ stay in the region remains uncertain.
The deployed troops were assigned to protect federal properties and provide security for immigration agents during arrests.
The deployment commenced in early June and was originally scheduled for a 60-day duration.
President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of around 4,000 California National Guard members and 700 active-duty Marines in early June in response to protests related to immigration raids in the Los Angeles area.
The deployment occurred despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who filed a lawsuit to prevent it.
A district court initially ruled that Mr. Trump’s deployment of the Guard against Mr. Newsom’s wishes was illegal, but an appeals court allowed the administration to maintain control of the troops. The legal case is ongoing.
Mr. Newsom stated that the National Guard’s deployment to Los Angeles has taken troops away from their families and civilian jobs, using them “to serve as political pawns for the president in Los Angeles.”
“While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilise, the remaining guardsmembers continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities,” he said in a statement.
“We call on Trump and the Department of Defence to end this theatre and send everyone home now.”
