Fact Check: A group of 200 Marines will begin protecting federal property and personnel in downtown Los Angeles at noon Friday.

Fact Check: "A group of 200 Marines will begin protecting federal property and personnel in downtown Los Angeles at noon Friday."

What We Know

On June 7, 2025, approximately 200 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles to protect federal property and personnel. This deployment followed the California National Guard's mobilization amidst civil unrest related to immigration protests in the city. According to a senior military official, these Marines are part of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, and will take over duties from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which had been guarding the Wilshire Federal Building in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles (Defense.gov).

Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51, confirmed that the Marines' role is strictly to provide protection and not to engage in law enforcement activities. He stated, "Right now, as of today, we have had no soldier or Marine detain anyone," emphasizing that their focus is on safeguarding federal law enforcement personnel (PBS).

The deployment comes as part of a larger military presence in the area, which includes around 2,000 National Guard members and additional military police personnel, totaling approximately 4,700 military service members in Los Angeles (AP News).

Analysis

The claim that 200 Marines will begin protecting federal property and personnel in downtown Los Angeles at noon Friday is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The information from Defense.gov provides a detailed account of the Marines' deployment, including the context of civil unrest and the transition from National Guard to Marine protection.

Additionally, the New York Times corroborates this information, noting that Maj. Gen. Sherman confirmed the Marines' deployment during a news conference. The AP News article further contextualizes the situation, detailing the protests that led to the military's involvement and the public response to these deployments.

The reliability of these sources is high, as they come from established news organizations and official military communications. Defense.gov is the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, which lends significant credibility to its reports. The New York Times and AP News are reputable news outlets known for their journalistic standards.

While some local officials, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have expressed concerns about the military presence, this does not contradict the factual basis of the Marines' deployment. Instead, it highlights the contentious political environment surrounding the situation (AP News).

Conclusion

The claim that "a group of 200 Marines will begin protecting federal property and personnel in downtown Los Angeles at noon Friday" is True. This assertion is supported by multiple credible sources confirming the deployment of Marines for protective duties in response to civil unrest in the area.

Sources

1. Marines to Guard Federal Property, Personnel in L.A. as Guard Troops ...
2. Marines begin taking over guarding a federal building in Los Angeles.
3. Marines deployed to LA to respond to immigration protests | AP News
4. Live Updates: National Guard Use in Los Angeles in Doubt ...
5. Military official says 200 Marines have entered Los Angeles to protect ...