Reports show that many National Guard troops sent by President Donald Trump to Los Angeles to deal with protests against federal immigration raids are deeply unhappy and have low morale. The troops are upset because they doubt the purpose of their mission, which many see as a “fake mission” or a misuse of military power for handling local law enforcement matters.
The New York Times spoke with almost two dozen people, including National Guard members, officers, officials, and civilians, and found that concerns were widespread. According to MSNBC, six service members specifically mentioned low morale and worries that this deployment could hurt future recruitment efforts. Several also said they disagreed with being involved in immigration crackdowns or felt they were sent for political reasons rather than a legitimate need.
Signs of this frustration include far fewer troops than usual choosing to extend their service during the deployment, at least 105 members seeking mental health counseling, and at least one company and one battalion commander being reassigned after objecting to the mission. There were even reports of soldiers purposely making a mess in Humvees and showers, leading to stricter bathroom rules. While the exact reasons for these problems aren’t confirmed, the situation suggests that political dissatisfaction may be a key factor.
Even the National Guard doesn’t believe they need to be in LA
Other news sources have reported similar issues. The Guardian previously wrote that military family support groups heard from many service members who were uncomfortable being used for domestic policing, which is not their usual role. Sarah Streyder from the Secure Families Initiative said, “The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for.”
Morale troubles have also appeared among Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, with some saying they are worried that ICE’s mission has shifted toward harsh and indiscriminate mass detentions. These reports don’t mean there will be mass resignations or protests, but instead show how they feel about the situation.
Whether they obey or resist is crucial for carrying out any authoritarian plan. In the past, police slowdowns and security forces refusing to crush uprisings have played a big role in whether those movements succeeded or failed. The growing unhappiness among some National Guard troops and ICE officers could create cracks and fissures that might turn into potential rays of hope if there are future attempts to use military and law enforcement to push through authoritarian power grabs.
Published: Jul 21, 2025 12:36 pm