The top federal law enforcement officials in Southern California defended President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard members against protesters following the attacks on public immigrants across Los Angeles.
Protesters from Compton and Paramount, which gathered streets and federal agents in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, were taken by protesters on Saturday, according to the U.S. Attorney General for the Bill Essayri District of California.
“It was just a staging area for federal agents, but they were discovered and the words came out,” the essay said in an interview with NBC Los Angeles’ news conference. “These agitators organizing this resistance effort started mobilizing people to the place, and it quickly turned into an ugly scene.”
The essay challenged rumors that more ice attacks occurred at Home Depot and meat factory in Paramount on Saturday, making it clear that federal agents gathered near the on-site offices adjacent to the retailer.
The unrest on Friday and Paramount’s Saturday clash also demonstrated that federal agents needed more help, U.S. lawyers said more federal agents were deployed in the area over the weekend.
“The difference between (Friday) and (Saturday) is that there were even more Border Patrol officers here. There were hundreds of border officers, so we were ready to handle the crowd,” the former Republican lawmaker said.
The essay reflected the message from acting director Ice Todd M. Lyon, who earlier said violent protesters were putting the lives of federal agents at risk on Saturday.
A US lawyer said several officers were injured during the clash on Saturday, one officer broke his wrist and another officer was injured from rocks and cement blocks thrown by protesters.
“Thousands of people form in the crowd, gather, riot, attack agents, throw rocks, throw eggs, throw Molotov cocktails,” he said.
The essay said more resources are needed as protesters are becoming “very refined” in organizing efforts to resist federal immigration enforcement.
“The National Guard is deployed and they intend to help maintain peace, and they intend to protect our federal assets,” he said.
The National Guard previously deployed in Southern California to help with disaster relief and support local law enforcement in emergencies, but this time hints at the federal government taking a step further.
“This will not be over. We intend to enforce written immigration laws and we continue our work.
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