LOS ANGELES – Approximately 700 active-duty Marines have been deployed to the Los Angeles area, joining National Guard troops already present, in response to protests regarding federal immigration enforcement.This deployment occurred as California Gov. Gavin Newsom sought a federal court order to prevent the troops’ deployment on city streets, according to a defense official on Tuesday morning.

The Marines are joining around 2,100 members of the California National Guard, who are operating in Los Angeles, paramount, and Compton. A top pentagon official told Congress that the estimated cost of deploying the National Guard and the Marines is about $134 million.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a 28-page document in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, requesting a temporary restraining order to “prevent the use of federalized National Guard and active duty Marines for law enforcement purposes on the streets of a civilian city.”

“Federal antagonization, through the presence of soldiers in the streets, has already caused real and irreparable damage to the City of Los Angeles, the people who live there, and the State of California,” the filing stated.”they must be stopped, instantly.” The state clarified it is not trying to stop the forces from protecting federal buildings or personnel on federal property, but seeks to avoid harm to communities if the Marines and National Guard are used for immigration and law enforcement.

U.S. Northern Command issued a statement saying that Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, based in Twentynine Palms, were activated to prepare for the deployment. The Marines will “seamlessly integrate” with the National Guard to protect “federal personnel and federal property” and have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and rules for the use of force.

A U.S. military official confirmed the Marines are in a staging area awaiting instructions. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, during a committee appearance, directed specific questions to Northern Command, but noted the deployed Marines have received crowd-control training and possess equipment like shields and batons. He clarified that the marines “don’t have arrest authority” and are present “to protect federal property and federal personnel.”

Federal law restricts the use of active-duty military for domestic law enforcement without presidential invocation of the Insurrection Act,which President trump has not done. When asked if he would invoke the law, Mr. Trump said, “If there’s an insurrection I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see.”

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that approximately 700 Marines “are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order,” deploying from Camp Pendleton.Hegseth told a House committee, “we believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations and we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties as we ought be able to enforce immigration law in this country.”

newsom indicated he would take legal action against the planned use of Marines, deeming it illegal. In a post on X,he wrote,”U.S. marines serve a valuable purpose for this country – defending democracy. they are not political pawns. The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point