U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has announced the establishment of a formal task force to oversee military deployments in Los Angeles County, amid escalating protests against immigration enforcement actions.
The announcement on Sunday clarified previous communications made by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the deployment of National Guard troops in the area.
In the announcement, NORTHCOM stated that U.S. Army North is now leading Task Force 51, with a two-star general assuming command of the ground operations. This task force is responsible for coordinating Title 10 forces in the region.
As part of this initiative, approximately 2,000 members of the California National Guard have been placed under federal control for the operation.
President Trump ordered the mobilization of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to “temporarily protect” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents along with other federal personnel engaged in law enforcement and protecting federal property.
This order was executed under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, citing a potential rebellion against federal authority as the legal justification for federalizing the National Guard.
As of Sunday afternoon, around 300 soldiers from the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have been deployed to Los Angeles County, specifically in the cities of Compton and Paramount, as well as at a federal complex located in downtown Los Angeles.
Details about when additional troops will arrive or which specific units will participate in Task Force 51 remain uncertain.
NORTHCOM also reported that roughly 500 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms are on standby to provide support if needed.
Previously, Hegseth mentioned that an additional 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton were prepared to assist the federal mission.
The wave of protests began on Friday in response to federal immigration raids that resulted in the detention of several dozen individuals in Los Angeles County.
During these federal actions, tactical agents encountered resistance from demonstrators, leading to a retreat in downtown Los Angeles as local law enforcement responded to the scene.
Protests continued throughout Saturday, with President Trump announcing that at least 2,000 National Guard personnel would be deployed in response to the unrest.
By Sunday, the situation in downtown Los Angeles had evolved; National Guard troops were stationed primarily around a loading dock at the federal facility.
At one point, with the help of police, they advanced onto Alameda Street, utilizing riot shields and tear gas to clear the area for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Border Patrol vehicles.
As protests escalated in the afternoon, Los Angeles police enacted roadblocks, employing tear gas and non-lethal measures against demonstrators.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has voiced strong opposition to the federalization of the state’s National Guard.
On Sunday afternoon, he formally requested that the Trump administration rescind its deployment order and return the California National Guard under state control.
In his letter to Trump, Newsom emphasized that there was no pressing need for the National Guard’s presence in Los Angeles at this time.
This military mobilization and the ongoing protests highlight the tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and local responses to federal actions.
As the situation develops, both state and federal authorities will be closely monitoring the unfolding events in Los Angeles County.
image source from：https://taskandpurpose.com/news/national-guard-los-angeles-task-force/
