India, June 8 -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Saturday that US Marines at Camp Pendleton have been placed on high alert and could be deployed to support National Guard efforts in Los Angeles, as violent protests continue for a second day.

Camp Pendleton, located in North San Diego County, is the main West Coast base of the US Marine Corps.

In a post on X, Hegseth wrote, "The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK."

"Under President Trump, violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities wil...