Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith on Tuesday said he has not had direct contact with Los Angeles Police Department leadership or California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) regarding the deployment of 700 Marines to the city amid immigration raid protests.

Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Smith said the active-duty battalion is in Los Angeles but has not yet been called into action to protect federal property and federal personnel.

The Pentagon on Monday ordered the Marines to the city to join the more than 4,100 National Guard troops meant to halt largely peaceful protests of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids. Some protesters have thrown projectiles at police and set cars on fire.

“I can't speak to what [U.S. Northern Command] has coordinated. The Marines there are under the auspices of the U.S. Northern Command,” Smith said in response to questions from Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).

“Well, I'd be interested to know if anyone has . . . just picked up the phone so that we can try and have two groups of people who are, in theory,........

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