Article By ANGELA SMITH and JOHN DOE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is currently working on establishing guidelines to direct U.S. Marines who may find themselves in the challenging situation of using force against American citizens on U.S. soil. This comes as the Trump administration deploys active duty troops to the immigration raid protests in Los Angeles.
U.S. Northern Command has announced the deployment of 700 Marines to the Los Angeles area to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. These Marines, from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines based in Twentynine Palms, California, will join the approximately 2,100 National Guard soldiers already in LA to address the protests.
The Marines have received training in deescalation techniques, crowd control, and rules for the use of force, according to Northern Command.
The use of active duty forces in this context raises challenging questions. While Marines are highly skilled in combat and crisis response from their experiences in conflict zones like Syria and Afghanistan, their current role presents a different set of challenges. They may now have to navigate situations where they could be confronted by protesters carrying gas canisters and make split-second decisions on how to respond or protect immigration enforcement agents from aggressive crowds.
According to a U.S. official, the troops will be armed with their standard service weapons, but will not carry tear gas. They will also have protective gear such as helmets, shields, and gas masks.
While troops abroad have rules of engagement to guide their responses to threats, those deployed domestically are governed by standing rules for the use of force. These rules must be established and agreed upon by Northern Command, with each Marine receiving a card outlining what actions are permitted and prohibited, according to another U.S. official.
For instance, warning shots are not allowed, as per draft documents on the use of force reviewed by The Associated Press. The documents indicate that Marines should prioritize deescalation but are authorized to act in self-defense.
The Pentagon is also developing a memo with clear instructions for the Marines on steps they can take to safeguard federal personnel and property. These guidelines will include protocols for potentially detaining civilians temporarily in cases where troops are under attack or to prevent harm, the first U.S. official stated.
If their role expands as violence escalates, it remains unclear under what legal authority they would be authorized to engage further, noted Elizabeth Goitein, a senior director at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.
President George H.W. Bush invoked the Insurrection Act to address riots in Los Angeles in 1992 following the acquittal of white police officers in the Rodney King case. While the act allows for the deployment of federal troops in national emergencies, officials have not indicated whether it will be used in this instance.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s consideration of deploying the Marines for response to unrest, as mentioned in a late Saturday tweet, has prompted ongoing discussions within the Pentagon. The Marine Corps is also grappling with logistical questions, including whether to deploy more experienced personnel to avoid putting less seasoned troops at risk of making critical judgment calls in potentially volatile situations.
Legal parameters for domestic deployments, where troops may assume policing roles, are outlined by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable seizures of individuals. Additionally, the Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits federal troops from conducting law enforcement activities on U.S. soil.
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