The 2025 Los Angeles protests, triggered by ICE raids, have drawn National Guard troops and Marines to the city. With tensions running high, many ask: when can the military use deadly force? The answer lies in strict rules and legal boundaries that make deadly force a rare option. Let’s examine the facts.
What’s the Military’s Role in LA?
First, the military’s job is limited. About 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines are protecting federal buildings, like the Metropolitan Detention Center, and federal workers, such as ICE agents. They’re not patrolling streets or arresting protesters. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 stops federal troops from acting like police unless the Insurrection Act is invoked by the President alone. As of June 2025, it hasn’t been, so the military focuses on defense, not offense.
When Can Deadly Force Be Used?
Military rules of engagement (ROE) allow it only in extreme cases, like self-defense or protecting others from immediate danger of death or serious injury. For instance, if a protester attacks with a gun or Molotov cocktail, troops could use deadly force. However, their weapons aren’t loaded with a live round in the chamber, and ammo is carried only for emergencies. General deterrents are rubber bullets, mace, etc. This setup shows how carefully they avoid using deadly force.
How Do These Protests Compare to 1992 LA Riots?
Today’s protests aren’t as violent as the 1992 LA riots, which left over 60 dead. Current clashes involve vandalism (like graffiti) looting stores, assaulting persons or their personal property (burning cars etc.), assaulting Law Enforcement and/or Troops with objects or direct contact. Local law enforcement, not the military, handles arrests and crowd control. The military steps in only if federal property or people face direct immediate threats, keeping deadly force as a last resort.
Why So Many Restrictions on Deadly Force?
Additionally, the Pentagon’s guidelines for Marines stress de-escalation. Troops can’t fire warning shots, and deadly force requires a clear threat, like an armed attack. Commanders ensure these rules are clear to avoid errors. Unlike 1992, when the Insurrection Act allowed broader action, today’s troops face stricter limits to prevent escalation.
Keeping the Peace
In short, deadly force is tightly controlled in LA’s 2025 protests. It’s allowed only when lives are in immediate danger, and even then, it’s the last option. By following these strict rules, the military aims to protect while keeping tensions low.
For more details, check these sources: Department of Defense Guidelines
