Marines ending Los Angeles deployment, Pentagon says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Marines stand watch at a checkpoint as they guard a federal building, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 20, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson/File Photo
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon announced on Monday it was ending its deployment of some 700 active-duty Marines sent to Los Angeles last month to protect federal property and personnel during a spate of protests tied to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
The withdrawal follows last week's decision to remove about half of the 4,000 National Guard troops also sent to Los Angeles.
"With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: Lawlessness will not be tolerated," said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
Trump deployed the Marines and California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June, against the wishes of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, to quell protests triggered by immigration raids on workplaces by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Despite legal challenges, a U.S. appeals court let Trump retain control of California's National Guard.
Trump's decision to send troops into Los Angeles prompted a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil and inflamed political tension in the country's second-most-populous city.
The Pentagon has defended the deployment, saying that safeguarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents ensures they can do their jobs, and praised the Marines on Monday.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH
Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes at college campus
Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act?
Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region
Singapore NTU to have compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026
World US authorities probing passenger jet's close call with B-52 bomber over North Dakota
Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip
Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety
"Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law," Parnell said.
Trump has vowed to deport millions of people in the country illegally and has executed raids at work sites including farms that had been largely exempted from enforcement during his first term. The administration has faced dozens of lawsuits across the country challenging its tactics.
Trump has increasingly turned to the military in his immigration crackdown.
In addition to sending troops to Los Angeles, thousands of active-duty troops have been deployed to the border with Mexico, and the Pentagon has created military zones in the border area.
The zones are intended to allow the Trump administration to use troops to detain migrants without invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act that empowers a president to deploy the U.S. military to suppress events such as civil disorder. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
14 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Kremlin says it 'noted' Trump's statement on shorter deadline for a ceasefire in Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A Ukrainian service member walks on a street protected with anti-drone nets, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the frontline town Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo MOSCOW - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it had "taken note" of a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he was shortening his deadline for Moscow to sign up to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face sanctions. Trump set a new deadline on Monday of 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress toward ending the war in Ukraine or face consequences, underscoring frustration with President Vladimir Putin over the 3-1/2-year-old conflict. Asked about Trump's statement on Tuesday during a conference call with reporters, the Kremlin kept its remarks short. "We have taken note of President Trump's statement yesterday. The special military operation continues," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, employing the term that Moscow uses for its war effort in Ukraine. "We remain committed to a peace process to resolve the conflict around Ukraine and to ensure our interests in the course of this settlement." Trump threatened on July 14 to impose new sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports within 50 days, a deadline which would have expired in early September. But on Monday, during a visit to Britain, he shortened that deadline and said: Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore S'pore can and must meaningfully apply tech like AI in a way that creates jobs for locals: PM Wong Singapore 7, including child and firefighter, taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Singapore 12 motorists nabbed for providing illegal private-hire services: LTA Life Alone but not lonely: Tips from seniors who live solo and like it "There's no reason in waiting... We just don't see any progress being made." Trump, who has held half a dozen calls with the Kremlin leader since returning to the White House in January, also said he was "not so interested in talking any more". Peskov declined to comment on that remark. REUTERS
Straits Times
44 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US, China resume talks in Stockholm to ease tariff hostilities
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The US and China could agree to an extension of a tariff truce struck in mid-May. STOCKHOLM - US and Chinese officials began a second day of talks in Stockholm on July 29 to resolve longstanding economic disputes and step back from an escalating trade war between the world's two biggest economies. The meetings may not yield immediate large breakthroughs but the two sides could agree to another 90-day extension of a tariff truce struck in mid-May . It may also pave the way for a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later in 2025 , though Mr Trump on July 29 denied going out of his way to seek one. The delegations met for more than five hours on July 28 at Rosenbad, the Swedish prime minister's office in central Stockholm. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was seen arriving at Rosenbad on July 29 morning after a separate meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. China's Vice-Premier He Lifeng also arrived at the venue. Neither side made statements after the first day of talks. China is facing an Aug 12 deadline to reach a durable tariff agreement with Mr Trump's administration, after reaching preliminary deals in May and June to end weeks of escalating tit-for-tat tariffs and a cut-off of rare earth minerals. Without an agreement, global supply chains could face renewed turmoil from US duties snapping back to triple-digit levels that would amount to a bilateral trade embargo. The Stockholm talks follow Mr Trump's biggest trade deal yet with the European Union on July 27 for a 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods exports to the United States, and a deal with Japan. The Financial Times reported on July 28 that the United States had paused curbs on tech exports to China to avoid disrupting trade talks with Beijing and support Mr Trump's efforts to secure a meeting with Mr Xi in 2025 . Mr Trump pushed back against suggestions he was seeking a meeting with Mr Xi. 'This is not correct, I am not SEEKING anything! I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended. Otherwise, no interest!' he wrote on Truth Social. Complex talks Meanwhile, in Washington, US senators from both major parties plan to introduce bills this week targeting China over its treatment of minority groups, dissidents, and Taiwan, emphasising security and human rights, which could complicate the talks in Stockholm. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is also set to delay an August trip his team had floated to the Trump administration that would have included stops in the United States, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on July 28 . The potential visit would have infuriated Beijing, possibly derailing the trade talks. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, a position Taiwan rejects, and denounces any show of support for Taipei from Washington. Previous US-China trade talks in Geneva and London in May and June focused on bringing US and Chinese retaliatory tariffs down from triple-digit levels and restoring the flow of rare earth minerals halted by China and Nvidia's H20 AI chips, and other goods halted by the United States. Among broader economic issues, Washington complains that China's state-led, export-driven model is flooding world markets with cheap goods, while Beijing says US national security export controls on tech goods seek to stunt Chinese growth. Mr Bessent has already flagged a deadline extension and has said he wants China to rebalance its economy away from exports to more domestic consumption – a decades-long goal for US policymakers. Analysts say the US-China negotiations are far more complex than those with other Asian countries and will require more time. China's grip on the global market for rare earth minerals and magnets, used in everything from military hardware to car windshield wiper motors, has proved to be an effective leverage point on US industries. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Iran denies Trump's claim that it gave Hamas ‘orders' in Gaza talks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump said the Iranians had 'interjected themselves in this last negotiation' between Israel and Hamas. - Iran said on July 29 it had not interfered in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza, after US President Donald Trump claimed Tehran had issued 'orders' to Palestinian group Hamas. Mr Trump, speaking to reporters on July 28 during a visit to Scotland, said the Iranians had 'interjected themselves in this last negotiation' between Israel and Hamas, which ended last week with no breakthrough. 'I think they got involved in this negotiation, telling Hamas, giving Hamas signals and orders and that's not good,' Mr Trump said without elaborating. Iran, a close ally and backer of Hamas, dismissed Mr Trump's remarks as 'absolutely baseless'. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the claim 'a form of projection and evasion of responsibility and accountability' on the US President's part. According to Mr Baqaei, Hamas negotiators 'do not need the intervention of third parties' as the group 'recognises and pursues the interests of the oppressed people of Gaza in the most appropriate manner'. The latest round of indirect negotiations, mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar, was held earlier in July in Doha but failed to secure a truce deal. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Online platforms have halved time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD Singapore 7, including child and firefighter, taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Life Alone but not lonely: Tips from seniors who live solo and like it Asia Extreme weather turns Beijing into rain trap; 30 killed, over 80,000 evacuated Singapore ST Podcasts Live: Share your ideas at The Fashion Pulpit on how to cope with rising temperatures Israel and Hamas have accused each other of failing to compromise on key issues to end the nearly 22-month war. In June, Israel launched a surprise offensive on its staunch rival Iran, targeting key nuclear and military sites but also hitting residential areas. The US briefly joined the conflict, striking Iranian nuclear facilities, while Tehran fought back with missile and drone attacks. Mr Trump said on July 28 that since its 12-day war with Israel ended, Iran has been sending 'very bad signals ', without specifying in what regard. He was possibly referring to nuclear negotiations with Washington that had been derailed by the conflict, or to Iran's support for militant groups in the region, which the US and its allies see as a threat. Mr Baqaei in turn urged the US to 'stop sending deadly weapons to the occupying regime', meaning Washington's close ally Israel, and force it to 'stop the genocide, allow humanitarian aid to enter' the Gaza Strip. AFP
