Feds to remove 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles

Trump withdrawing 2K National Guardsmen from LA

The Trump administration is withdrawing 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, after weeks of immigration raids and protests, and a legal battle.

LOS ANGELES - The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it would release 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles. 

What we know:

Troops were federalized and deployed to LA in early June in response to immigration raids and protests. 

President Donald Trump originally ordered that 2,000 California National Guard troops be deployed to LA to protect federal buildings and personnel. He then deployed an additional 2,000 troops along with 700 US Marines.

On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement saying 2,000 National Guard troops were being released from federal control.

"Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding," Parnell said. "As such, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen from the federal protection mission."

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The remaining 2,000 Guard troops and 700 Marines will remain on their deployment to protect federal assets in the area.

Bass calls removal a ‘victory’ 

What they're saying:

The federalization of National Guard troops was repeatedly condemned by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Trump administration challenging the legality of its move, but a judge ruled in favor of the federal government.

Following word of the removal, Newsom released a statement saying, "For more than a month, (the National Guard) has been pulled away from their families, communities and civilian work to serve as political pawns for the president in Los Angeles. While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilize, the remaining guardsmembers continue without a mission, without direction and without any hopes of returning to help their communities. We call on Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theater and send everyone home now."

Mayor Bass held a press conference Tuesday night, calling the removal a major victory. She said she hopes this is the beginning of the withdrawal of all troops and Marines. She reiterated that they should never have been deployed to LA in the first place. 

"The administration has finally understood that they need to withdraw the troops. Let me say this is what happens when the city stands strong," Bass stated.  

Newsom addresses immigration raids 

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited a church in Bell where we held a press conference to discuss the recent news of the National Guard and the ongoing ICE raids.

Newsom said immigration raids in California have wrecked the economy, wrecked small local businesses, and made people fearful of leaving their house and going about their day.  

Newsom vows to protect California communities amid ICE raids

Gov. Newsom was in Southern California Wednesday where he spoke about the latest immigration raids, the impact they had to California residents and small businesses. He also discussed the mobilization of the National Guard.

He also said that what’s happening in California is just a preview of what’s to come.  

"These are operations you are going to see across the United States. They tested the boundaries of the law, they've tested the boundaries of public perception, and what the public will except and they are going to export members of our own state national guard to other states so when they draw down and demobilize, the question is for what? To go where? Under who’s command? Who's control? And to me the more interesting question is what ultimately happens to our members of the national guard."