Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

The Pentagon confirmed Monday that the 700 U.S. Marines deployed to counter the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Los Angeles last month would withdraw.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to Forbes, "With stability returning to Los Angeles, the Secretary has directed the redeployment of the 700 Marines whose presence sent a clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed victory following the news, calling it a win for the city.

"This was an unnecessary deployment," she said in a video posted on social media. "This is a victory. We have many more victories to go because we need all of these raids to end."

Hours before the Marine withdrawal was announced, Bass spoke at Los Angeles Mission College to continue her calls for the removal of military troops, including the Marines and National Guard soldiers from the second-largest city in the country.

"We need the National Guard to assist us in preparing for fire season, not for an inappropriate deployment where they are just guarding a building that's not under attack," she said.

Los Angeles has been a flashpoint in the U.S. administration's latest crackdown on immigration with some of the raids sparking a violent backlash in some communities.

The deployment of the National Guard troops has only triggered more protests.

"[The deployment is] terrorizing all of us here in the community. They're not safe. They're painting this picture that we're rioting but we're not doing anything. We're just peacefully trying to send our message across that we want them out of here and we want them to stop terrorizing our people and our community," said a protester.

The partial withdrawal of the National Guard troops comes after an intense public outcry, legal challenges, and growing pressure on the White House, with critics calling the deployment a dangerous overreach of federal power, as California officials had not requested military support, and several members of Congress warned the deployment risked "militarizing civil space".

U.S. President Donald Trump deployed California National Guard troops to Los Angeles on June 7 during anti-ICE protests, later reinforcing with 700 Marines. The U.S. Department of Defense began withdrawing National Guard troops deployed there last week.

Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

Marines to end deployment in Los Angeles: Pentagon

Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province saw a soaring number of visitors from abroad on Thursday, the first day of 2026 and also the opening day of China's three-day New Year holiday, as festive celebrations unfolded across the city.

Major border checkpoints in the city recorded peak inbound passenger flows, with large numbers of travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas entering the city to experience its vibrant holiday vibes.

"I'm so happy 'cause this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen," said a visitor from Hong Kong.

International tourists also shared their excitement.

"It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city," said an overseas visitor.

The inbound passenger flow at Luohu Port peaked from 8:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, said an officer there, adding the average daily passenger flow during the New Year break is expected to reach about 240,000.

At the West Kowloon Station port, eye-catching red decorations themed around the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival which will mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse added to the festive mood.

As a key transportation hub of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the port also saw heavy two-way passenger traffic. Daily cross-border passenger flow there is expected to average around 100,000 during the holiday.

An Australian tourist said he was looking forward to his trip to south China.

"I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." said a tourist.

Outside the ports, celebrations were in full swing as the city prepared for rising visitor numbers.

A large-scale parade featuring more than 30 themed formations kicked off in the morning along the 1.6-kilometer Festival Avenue in Shenzhen's Futian District.

The event drew huge crowds with inflatable cartoon characters, lively drum performances, and traditional Yingge Dance -- a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province that merges opera, dance, and martial arts.

Nearby commercial zones also rolled out special consumption coupons, allowing visitors to enjoy a one-stop experience combining festive celebrations and shopping.

"The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe", said an international visitor.

China continues to grow in popularity as a destination for overseas travelers. Data from online tourism platforms show that inbound flight bookings to China rose 20 percent year on year on the first day of the holiday, with Shenzhen ranking fifth among the country's most popular inbound travel destinations.

"On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent," said Shi Ke, a researcher from big data research institute of Qunar, an online travel service provider.

Shenzhen embraces influx of visitors on first day of 2026