Los Angeles National Guard Expands Role, Protecting ICE Agents During Arrests: Following President Trump's immigration enforcement escalation, National Guard troops in Los Angeles shifted from federal property protection to providing direct security for ICE agents during arrests, sparking legal challenges from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Photos show troops guarding ICE officers during enforcement operations. This deployment follows the arrival of thousands of National Guard troops and Marines in response to protests against increased immigration enforcement
National Guard troops provided security for ICE agents during Los Angeles immigration arrests on Tuesday. Photos released by ICE show troops guarding officers conducting enforcement operations, marking an expansion of the National Guard's role beyond federal property protection. This deployment follows President Trump's increased immigration enforcement and Governor Newsom's legal challenge
ICE Los Angeles Immigration Raid: National Guard Supports Enforcement Operations. See photos from today's operation. #ICELosAngeles #ImmigrationEnforcement #NationalGuard #LosAngeles
National Guard troops now directly support ICE agents during Los Angeles immigration enforcement operations, providing perimeter and personnel protection during arrests. This expanded role, bringing troops closer to deportation actions as promised by the Trump administration, follows ICE's statement confirming the troops' mission to safeguard facilities and officers conducting daily enforcement. The deployment follows increased protests against heightened immigration enforcement in Los Angeles
National Guard troops in Los Angeles are providing security and perimeter protection during ICE immigration enforcement operations. Authorized to secure streets and areas surrounding enforcement actions, the Guard is not participating in arrests but is protecting agents and federal facilities. This expanded role follows President Trump's deployment of troops to support increased immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles area
California Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency request with a federal court to halt the Trump administration's use of National Guard and Marine troops assisting with Los Angeles immigration enforcement. Newsom argues this deployment escalates tensions and interferes with local law enforcement. The deployment follows President Trump's order of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests against increased immigration enforcement
Amid heightened tensions following President Trump's intensified immigration enforcement, Governor Newsom filed an emergency request to block the deployment of approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles. This deployment, prompted by downtown protests against the administration's policies, saw National Guard troops expanding their role to protect ICE agents during immigration arrests. The Governor's action aims to prevent further escalation in the city of 4 million
National Guard troops in Los Angeles provided security for immigration agents during arrests, a shift from their initial role protecting federal property. While Marines deployed to the city haven't yet engaged with protesters, the National Guard's involvement remains limited to perimeter and personnel protection, not direct law enforcement actions
Federal judge to hear challenge against Trump administration's use of National Guard in Los Angeles immigration raids. Governor Newsom's emergency request seeks to block the unprecedented deployment, citing concerns over escalating tensions and interference with law enforcement operations. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday
National Guard troops assisting ICE in Los Angeles immigration raids sparked controversy after Governor Newsom filed an emergency request to halt their deployment. The Governor argued that using the Guard for immigration enforcement escalates tensions and risks civil unrest, a shift from their initial role protecting federal buildings. Court documents highlight concerns that this expanded role pushes the National Guard into direct law enforcement actions, contradicting claims of solely providing perimeter security
Los Angeles deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines sparks controversy. Governor Newsom seeks court order to halt their use in immigration enforcement, citing increased protest tensions and interference with local law enforcement efforts. The expanded military presence, opposed by local officials and the police chief, raises concerns about safe protest management
Marine Corps General Eric Smith confirmed Tuesday that Marines deployed to Los Angeles are currently focused on protecting federal personnel and property, and have not been involved in responding to protests related to increased immigration enforcement
Capitol Hill testimony reveals Marines' crowd control training lacks arrest powers, despite National Guard's expanded role in assisting immigration enforcement in Los Angeles
Trump's consideration of the Insurrection Act, a presidential power authorizing the deployment of U.S. military forces to quell domestic unrest or enforce laws, raises concerns about extreme emergency powers. This controversial act allows the president to utilize the military domestically in situations of rebellion or violence
President Trump's Oval Office statement regarding potential insurrection: "If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke [the Insurrection Act]. We’ll see." This follows the deployment of National Guard troops assisting ICE agents during Los Angeles immigration arrests, escalating tensions and prompting legal challenges from California Governor Newsom
Later the president called protesters “animals” and “a foreign enemy” in a speech at Fort Bragg ostensibly to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth.
The protests began Friday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades.
The demonstrations have been far less raucous since. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids.
Los Angeles police said they made over 100 arrests Monday evening, mostly for failing to disperse downtown. One person was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, and two police offers were injured, the department said.
Several businesses were broken into, though authorities didn’t say if the looting was tied to the protests. Nejdeh Avedian, general manager at St. Vincent Jewelry Center in the Los Angeles Jewelry District said the protesters had already left, and “these guys were just opportunists,” though St. Vincent’s had armed guards and was left alone.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Tuesday that protesters have hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at law enforcement, set vehicles on fire, defaced buildings and public property and set fire to American flags.
On Tuesday, a few dozen protesters gathered peacefully in front of the federal complex, which was quickly declared an unlawful assembly. Police issued a dispersal order and corralled the protesters, telling members of the media to stay out to avoid getting hurt. Officers with zip ties then started making arrests.
Obscene slogans directed at Trump and federal law enforcement remained scrawled across several buildings. At the Walt Disney Concert Hall, workers were busy washing away graffiti Tuesday.
In nearby Santa Ana, armored Guard vehicles blocked a road leading to federal immigration and government offices.
Sending in the military is the latest step in the administration’s immigration crackdown as Trump pursues the mass deportations he promised last year during the presidential campaign.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Tuesday that the use of troops inside the U.S. will continue to expand.
“I think we’re entering another phase, especially under President Trump with his focus on the homeland, where the National Guard and Reserves become a critical component of how we secure that homeland,” he said on Capitol Hill.
The mayor and the governor say Trump is putting public safety at risk by adding military personnel even though police say they don’t need the help.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said he was confident in the police department’s ability to handle the demonstrations and that the Marines’ arrival without coordinating with police would present a “significant logistical and operational challenge.”
Demonstrations have spread to other cities nationwide, including San Francisco, as well as Dallas and Austin, Texas.
The Pentagon said deploying the National Guard and Marines costs $134 million. The defense secretary said the troops are needed to protect federal agents.
Meanwhile, Democratic members of California’s congressional delegation on Tuesday accused the president of creating a “manufactured crisis.”
On Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit over the use of National Guard troops, seeking to halt the deployment.
Trump said the city would have been “completely obliterated” if he had not deployed the Guard.
The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration’s mass deportation efforts.
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Baldor and Copp reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles, Amy Taxin in Orange County, California, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Greg Bull in Seal Beach, California, contributed to this report.
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