Withdrawal of Additional 1,350 National Guard Members from Los Angeles Announced by Pentagon
National Guard Troops Continue to Withdraw from Los Angeles
After a series of withdrawals, approximately 250 National Guard troops remain stationed in Los Angeles, according to Pentagon confirmations. The initial deployment of around 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines was made in early June to address protests linked to immigration raids.
Over the course of July, the Pentagon gradually pulled back forces. Around 2,000 Guard members and 700 Marines left mid- to late July, and on July 31–August 1, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered another 1,350 National Guard members withdrawn.
The remaining troops are primarily focused on guarding federal functions against unrest, with their presence mostly confined to federal building sites. The Guard troops are mainly stationed at two locations, which include the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office and detention facility downtown.
The exact timeline for the remaining National Guard troops' departure from Los Angeles is not specified. However, it is worth noting that approximately 1,350 federalized California National Guardsmen have been released from their deployment.
Mayor Karen Bass has been vocal about the troop deployments, calling their release "another win for Los Angeles" and expressing a desire for all troops to leave. She has also stated that they will continue to apply pressure until all troops are out of L.A.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. It is not specified who the federal personnel are that the remaining National Guard troops are protecting. Some soldiers were assigned to protect federal agents during immigration raids.
The withdrawal of troops has been met with criticism from local officials, who view the deployments as unnecessary and inflammatory. Nonetheless, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of federal personnel and property in Los Angeles.
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In the context given, here are the two sentences containing 'politics' and 'general-news':
- The initial deployment of around 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, made in early June, stirred up a political debate linked to immigration raids and became a hot topic in general-news discussions.
- The withdrawal of troops has been met with criticism from local officials, who view the deployments as unnecessary and inflammatory, making it a current political controversy and a subject of general-news reports.
