Over 2,000 National Guard members discharged from their service in Los Angeles city.
In the heart of California, tensions remain high following immigration-enforcement raids conducted by U.S. immigration agents in June 2025, which led to unrest and protests in the Los Angeles area. As a response, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to protect federal facilities and personnel.
The initial deployment included 2,000 California National Guard troops, with another 2,000 troops and 700 U.S. Marines added later. However, as the unrest subsides, the Pentagon has announced the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from federal control, leaving 2,000 troops and 700 Marines to continue their deployment to protect federal assets in the area.
The decision to release some National Guard troops was met with relief by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who attributed it to the city's unity, peaceful protests, rallies, and legal actions. The city's mayor has been a vocal critic of the deployment, describing it as a "militarization" of immigration operations.
Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials have also condemned the federal government's actions, challenging the legality of the National Guard's federalization in court. A judge initially ruled in favor of the federal government, but the state has since filed a formal notice of appeal.
The legal challenges centre around claims that immigration officials are carrying out "roving patrols" and detaining people without warrants, regardless of whether they have actual proof they are in the country legally. The lawsuit further alleges that federal agencies, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection, engaged in unconstitutional and unlawful immigration enforcement raids by targeting Angelenos based on their perceived race and ethnicity and denying detainees constitutionally mandated due process.
The government has strongly denied these claims and argues that the ruling places "coercive restraints on lawful immigration enforcement affecting every immigration stop and detention." They have also filed court papers seeking a stay of the orders barring federal agents from detaining people without reasonable suspicion beyond their race, ethnicity, or occupation.
The situation remains controversial, with ongoing discussions about the role of the military in domestic law enforcement and the impact on immigrant communities. The federal government's decision to maintain a military presence in Los Angeles continues to be a point of contention between state and federal authorities.
The ongoing situation in California, fueled by immigration politics, has sparked discussions about the role of the military in domestic law enforcement. As the city of Los Angeles navigates legal challenges against the federal government's immigration enforcement tactics, initially described as a "militarization" of operations, the case highlights concerns about race, ethnicity, and due process in crime-and-justice circles. Meanwhile, the General-news headlines continue to follow the evolving relationship between state and federal authorities, with the federal government insisting on maintaining a military presence in the form of National Guard troops and Marines, potentially contributing to sports commentaries discussing the broader societal implications of the event.
