Some of the Marines deployed in Los Angeles were expected to launch operations on Wednesday to support National Guard troops stationed in federal buildings in the city.
President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses have approved the deployment of around 700 Marines and more than 2,000 National Guard. They were tasked with protecting federal buildings in Los Angeles, including the Downtown Area Metropolis Detention Center.
At least four military vehicles were found to leave Los Aramitos, a joint military training base located about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles early Wednesday, but it was not immediately known whether they were connected to the Los Angeles mission. The US Northern Command confirmed on Tuesday that the Marines can carry out the operation on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday morning, the Marines were not yet on the streets as part of what they called Task Force 51, defense officials told NBC News. They had basic training on standard military rules.
Some of the Marines could be on the streets as early as Wednesday, but there were no orders to do so, the Secretary of Defense said.
Peaceful demonstrations, primarily about immigration enforcement activities, are concentrated in the downtown area where nightly curfews that took effect on Tuesday night came into effect after looting and vandalism on Monday night.
Mayor Karen Bass told MSNBC that about 100 arrests were reported overnight on Wednesday due to illegal assembly and curfew orders, most of which were reported in illegal assembly and curfew violations. There were no reports of arrests for looting and vandalism.
The curfew area is approximately 1 square mile in a city of 4 million people, including approximately 500 square miles. Bass said the curfew could be in effect for several days.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has given harsh criticism about the Trump administration’s policies and tactics as National Guard and Marine members were sent to Los Angeles amid ice raids and protests.
Several protesters were taken into custody early Tuesday after walking to the 101 highway in downtown LA.
Los Angeles police implemented a downtown curfew by deploying officers on horseback and using crowd-controlled projectiles to disband groups of hundreds of people opposed to President Trump’s immigration crackdown. National Guard members were watching behind plastic shields, but did not appear to have participated in the arrest Tuesday night.
Hours later, many of the protesters were dispersed, but the sporadic conflict was much smaller than the previous night. Authorities said a curfew is necessary to stop vandalism and theft by agitators trying to cause trouble.
More than 100 arrests have been reported in connection with Monday night violence, including vandalism and looting. At least 200 arrests have been made by the LAPD and CHP since Friday, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the situation.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement earlier this week that he is confident in the police department’s ability to handle large-scale demonstrations and that the arrival of the Marines presents “critical logistics and operational challenges” without coordination with the police department.
Trump posted on the true social platform that the city was “burning on the ground” if he didn’t send him to the military, but it was local law enforcement that responded to the violence this week and the weekend.
Gov. Gavin Newsom previously accused Trump of portraying a “military dragnet” in the second largest city in the nation, with the National Guard escalation that Trump ordered to deploy for 60 days.
Newsom asked the court to put an emergency halt on the troops supporting federal immigrant agents. Some security guards were now protected by agents when they made their arrests. He said it only increases tension and public anxiety. The judge set up a hearing on Thursday and gave government power for several days to continue those activities.
The change drives the troops closer to involvement in law enforcement measures like deportation, as Trump has promised as part of his administration’s immigration crackdown. Security guards have the authority to temporarily detain people attacking officers, but will ultimately be arrested by law enforcement.
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