Deployment of Marines in Los Angeles Sparks Fears of Growing Militarization in the U.S.

In a move that has sparked wide controversy, U.S. Northern Command announced that the Department of Defense is preparing to deploy nearly 700 Marines temporarily to Los Angeles, amid mounting protests against federal immigration raids.

The 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment, based at Twentynine Palms, California, has been activated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The mission is described as a protection effort for federal property and facilities, in coordination with the National Guard already deployed in the city.

The move has escalated political tensions between the administration of former President Donald Trump and the government of California, especially after Trump controversially called for the arrest of Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of « failing to control the rioters. »

California officials have firmly rejected the plan, calling it unconstitutional and emphasizing that no federal troops have been physically deployed yet. The state has announced it will pursue legal action against the decision, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent.

This development follows a previously uncoordinated deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops over the weekend — the boldest such action in over 60 years.

The controversy raises critical questions about federal versus state authority, and the role of military forces in domestic affairs, as fears grow of an increasingly militarized civil space in the U.S.