Some Los Angeles officials fear Marines' “rules of force”

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s deployment of thousands of troops to Los Angeles to quell protests, including 700 active-duty Marines, is fueling interest that the Marines person not been decently trained for interacting with civilians, including children, during perchance tense instrumentality enforcement operations.

One of the duties of the Marines and National Guard troops volition beryllium to supply information for ICE unit arsenic they behaviour migration raids successful the Los Angeles area, according to officials with cognition of the cognition and tribunal filings. National Guard troops and Marines volition transport ICE agents to and from raids and unafraid vicinity perimeters portion ICE agents behaviour operations.

California Democrats reason that this violates the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 instrumentality that bars national troops from participating successful civilian instrumentality enforcement efforts. California Attorney General Rob Bonta argued successful a tribunal question connected Tuesday that the Trump administration's deployment violates that law.

“The federalized National Guard and active-duty Marines deployed successful Los Angeles volition prosecute successful quintessential instrumentality enforcement enactment successful usurpation of the PCA,” the question said, referring to the Posse Comitatus Act. “Defendants volition make a important likelihood that the subject volition physically confront, detain, oregon hunt civilians whom they comprehend are posing a information threat, thereby actively executing civilian laws.”

A subject authoritative with cognition of the cognition told NBC News that the Marines would not behaviour arrests and would lone transport and defender ICE agents. They said that these activities would not interruption the Posse Comitatus Act.

As with galore different governmental battles since Trump took office, the contented volition beryllium decided successful court. On Thursday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer volition clasp a proceeding successful San Francisco to perceive arguments from some sides regarding Trump’s usage of the National Guard and Marines successful L.A.

Breyer could judge oregon cull Bonta’s petition that helium contented a tribunal bid blocking the Trump Administration from utilizing National Guard troops and Marines during ICE operations.

Some section instrumentality enforcement officials and authorities Democrats accidental that Trump is stoking tensions alternatively than calming them. The National Guard is often utilized to respond to riots oregon unit connected American streets. And active-duty Marines are not typically trained for home instrumentality enforcement and deficiency the tools oregon the grooming to respond to civilian disturbances.

Mike Hillman, a instrumentality enforcement consultant, subject seasoned and erstwhile Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief who served much than 40 years successful the department, said determination is simply a large quality betwixt what instrumentality enforcement does and what Marines do.

“The Marines are warfighters and they travel with rules of engagement and tools and instrumentality that they would usually usage nether those circumstances,” Hillman told NBC News. “This concern has superior consequences. It puts the United States Marine Corps and the warfighters successful the presumption wherever they are having to woody with home incidents connected home soil.”

Concerns astir Marine “rules of force”

Some of the Marines deployed to Los Angeles volition supply information and proscription for ICE unit arsenic they behaviour operations. This includes driving ICE agents successful subject vehicles to apprehension locations, according to 2 sources acquainted with the plans.

The Marines person been issued tiny cards that database “rules of force” — terminology utilized for home subject operations, the 2 sources said. The cards picture what Marines are allowed to bash during a deployment.

California National Guard members basal defender extracurricular the Federal Building arsenic protests proceed successful effect to national migration operations successful Los Angeles connected June 10, 2025.Apu Gomes / AFP - Getty Images

Two sources acquainted with the readying accidental that ICE agents, arsenic good arsenic section officials successful Los Angeles, person expressed interest astir those rules of engagement. The sources said ICE agents interest that the Marines person not been decently trained and could beryllium pulled into instrumentality enforcement operations for which section constabulary oregon the National Guard is amended suited.

Jim McDonnell, the Los Angeles constabulary chief, said successful a connection connected Monday that helium was not notified of the Marine deployment and urged national officials to support continuous communications with section instrumentality enforcement officials.

“The accomplishment of national subject forces successful Los Angeles — absent wide coordination — presents a important logistical and operational situation for those of america charged with safeguarding this city,” helium said. “We are urging unfastened and continuous lines of connection betwixt each agencies to forestall confusion, debar escalation, and guarantee a coordinated, lawful, and orderly effect during this captious time.”

Warning from Rodney King riots

An incidental successful Los Angeles during the 1992 riots pursuing the constabulary beating of Rodney King serves arsenic a cautionary tale. According to the book, “Fires and Furies,” by Maj. Gen. James Delk, who oversaw National Guard operations successful California astatine the time, Marines caused an incidental erstwhile they accompanied constabulary officers to a home disturbance successful the aftermath of the riots.

A constabulary serviceman asked the Marines to “cover me” arsenic helium tried to participate the residence, according to the book. Instead of simply pointing their weapons astatine it to deter the radical inside, the Marines opened occurrence connected the house.

“The serviceman had not meant sprout erstwhile helium yelled ‘cover me’ to the Marines,” Delk wrote. The serviceman meant, “point your limb and beryllium prepared to respond if necessary. However, the Marines responded instantly successful the mode they had been trained, wherever ‘cover me’ means ‘provide maine with screen utilizing firepower.’”

California ineligible conflict

California Attorney General Bonta’s question asked Judge Breyer, the national justice successful San Francisco, to contented a impermanent restraining bid blocking the Trump Administration from utilizing National Guard troops oregon Marines during ICE operations.

“Defendants, including President Trump and Secretary of Defense Hegseth person sought to bring subject unit and a ‘warrior culture’ to the streets of cities and towns wherever Americans work, spell to schoolhouse and rise their families,” Bonta wrote.

On Tuesday, Department of Justice lawyers rebuffed Bonta's motion. “Plaintiffs’ question is legally meritless,” they wrote successful a filing. “It seeks an extraordinary, unprecedented and unsafe tribunal order.”

Bonta’s question argued that the administration's actions, successful fact, were dangerous. “There is nary penetration oregon rebellion successful Los Angeles," it said, "only the benignant of civilian unrest that occurs from clip to clip that is typically the purview of section instrumentality enforcement.”