National Guard Detains Protesters in Los Angeles, Assists ICE Operations

National Guard troops in Los Angeles have already detained protesters involved in boycotts against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. However, these individuals were promptly transferred to local law enforcement.

According to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, approximately 500 National Guard troops have received training to assist agents in carrying out immigration operations. Immigration officials have also shared images of National Guard soldiers providing security for Department of Homeland Security agents.

While the intensity of the riots in Los Angeles has decreased, Sherman anticipates a potential resurgence. He stated that discussions are underway regarding protests across the United States, emphasizing his focus on the situation in Los Angeles and expressing significant concern.

Sherman leads Task Force 51, which oversees the deployment of over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to the protests. These protests began on Friday due to ICE agents conducting operations in the area.

Over the past few days, National Guard soldiers have temporarily detained anti-ICE protesters, though the frequency of these detentions has decreased recently. Sherman clarified that the soldiers do not participate in arrests or law enforcement activities. Instead, they release the protesters once police take them into custody.

The troops deployed to the protests undergo several days of training on civil unrest. Those providing security during raids receive additional instruction, legal training, and conduct rehearsals with the agents involved in enforcement operations.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly criticized the Trump administration, accusing the president of improperly deploying 2,000 National Guard members without consulting California's law enforcement leaders. The Trump administration has stated that its ICE operations target "criminal illegal immigrant killers, rapists, gangbangers, drug dealers, human traffickers and domestic abusers.