Latest news with #TaskForce51
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Pentagon releases 150 National Guard troops from security mission deployment in LA as wildfire threats mount
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the release of 150 California National Guard troops from a federal security mission in Los Angeles, freeing them up for wildfire duty just as the state enters peak fire season. The decision came at the recommendation of Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, who oversees the mission. In a statement provided to Fox News, a USNORTHCOM spokesperson said, "Task Force 51 will release approximately 150 members of the California National Guard from the Federal Protection mission today," adding that the force remains "appropriately sourced." The move comes days after Guillot reportedly requested the return of 200 troops to help with wildfire containment, The Associated Press reported. The National Guard's elite Joint Task Force Rattlesnake has been stretched thin since President Donald Trump deployed roughly 4,000 California National Guard troops and 800 Marines to Los Angeles in early June in response to violent protests over immigration enforcement actions. The deployment sparked controversy among state political leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who criticized the move for pulling essential firefighting resources during one of the driest years on record. But the Pentagon held firm, until now. Task Force 51 (TF-51), led by Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman, is tasked with protecting federal personnel and property. According to the U.S. Army North, TF-51 "provides a rapidly deployable capability" to assist in homeland defense operations. Sherman, a decorated combat veteran and longtime National Guard leader, also serves as deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army North. Despite debate over the scope of the mission during Los Angeles' anti-ICE protests, Hegseth has stood behind it. With 150 troops released, roughly 3,850 troops remain based on the originally deployed 4,000. Newsom's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump admin deploys 2K more troops to blue city for anti-ICE riots
The Department of Defense is sending thousands more National Guard troops to protect federal property amid anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in Los Angeles. "By direction of the Secretary of Defense and in coordination with U.S. Northern Command, 2,000 additional California Army National Guard soldiers have been activated in a Title 10 status to support the protection of federal functions, personnel, and property in the greater Los Angeles area," according to a Tuesday release from U.S. Northern Command. The release says that the 49th Military Police Brigade will be sent to serve alongside the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat team and the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, under the direction of Task Force 51, which is commanded by Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman. The task force, which has been the subject of controversy since it was deployed to the West Coast city after an eruption of violence stemming from immigration operations carried out by ICE, will now be comprised of 4,100 National Guardsmen and 700 active duty Marines. Gov. Gavin Newsom last week sued the Trump administration for deploying troops to California in the first place, accusing the president of having "commandeered" 2,000 of the state's National Guard members "illegally, for no reason" without consulting with California's law enforcement leaders. "The INCOMPETENT Governor of California was unable to provide protection in a timely manner when our Ice Officers, GREAT Patriots they are, were attacked by an out of control mob of agitators, troublemakers, and/or insurrectionists," Trump said on TRUTH Social in response to the lawsuit. "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in favor of Newsom. An appellate court is currently reviewing the matter. Northern Command said that the troops will not be used in a civilian law enforcement capacity, but rather they will "provide Task Force 51 with adequate numbers of forces to provide continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency." "The soldiers are completing training on de-escalation, crowd control, and use of the standing rules for the use of force in advance of joining the federal protection mission," the release said. About two weeks ago, riots erupted in Paramount, California, just south of Los Angeles, after ICE conducted immigration sweeps in the city. Those riots quickly spread north, leading to several nights of showdowns between law enforcement and unruly bad actors. Stores in downtown Los Angeles were broken into and looted, and much of the downtown area was vandalized with anti-ICE and anti-Trump graffiti. Several "Kill Trump" messages were graffitied in the city's downtown. The U.S. Secret Service told Fox News Digital last week it was "aware" of the threatening messages. Meanwhile, violent behavior continues to flare up. A mob of 100 looters ransacked an AutoZone in southern Los Angeles early Monday morning, resulting in the reported loss of $67,000 in merchandise. Detectives are investigating whether the looting episode is related to a "street takeover." Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment.
Express Tribune
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US Marines detain first civilian in LA amidst protests
.S. Marines detain a person outside the Wilshire Federal Building after Marines were deployed to Los Angeles, as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 13, 2025. Photo:REUTER Listen to article Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian on Friday, the US military confirmed after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active-duty troops deployed there by President Donald Trump. The incident took place at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles where Marines took charge of the mission to protect the building earlier on Friday, in a rare domestic use of US troops after days of protests over immigration raids. Reuters images showed Marines apprehending the man, restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security. Asked about the incident, the US military's Northern Command spokesperson said active duty forces "may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances." Ensuring our Marines are ready to serve! 2nd Bn, 7th Marines supports #LosAngeles under @USArmyNorth's #TaskForce51, prioritizing rest & recovery for maximum operational effectiveness. Stay informed — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) June 13, 2025 "Any temporary detention ends immediately when the individual(s) can be safely transferred to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel," a spokesperson said. Speaking to reporters after he was released, the civilian identified himself as Marcos Leao, 27. Leao said he was an Army veteran on his way to an office of the Department of Veterans Affairs when he crossed a yellow tape boundary and was asked to stop. Leao, who gained his US citizenship through military service, said he was treated "very fairly." "They're just doing their job," said Leao, who is of Angolan and Portuguese descent. The 200 Marines and more than 2,000 National Guard now deployed to Los Angeles are tasked with protecting federal property and federal personnel. They will be joined by an additional 500 Marines and 2,000 more National Guard soldiers. This means that they will accompany ICE agents on raids, officials have said. Ensuring our Marines are ready to serve! 2nd Bn, 7th Marines supports #LosAngeles under @USArmyNorth's #TaskForce51, prioritizing rest & recovery for maximum operational effectiveness. Stay informed — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) June 13, 2025 The troops are authorized to detain people who pose a threat to federal personnel or property, but only until police can arrest them. Military officials are not allowed to carry out arrests themselves. The Posse Comitatus Act generally forbids the US military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement. Trump could take a more far-reaching step by invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement. Read: US Marines deployed to LA US Marines were deployed to Los Angeles on June 13, the military said, in a rare domestic use of its forces after days of protests over immigration raids and as nationwide demonstrations were expected on Saturday, in the biggest backlash since President Donald Trump returned to power. About 200 Marines will protect a federal building in Los Angeles, Army Major General Scott Sherman said on Friday. The administration has authorized a total of 700 Marines to be deployed in the city. Neither the Marines nor National Guard troops in the city have temporarily detained anyone, he added. "I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities," he said during a briefing. US Marines made the first known detention of a civilian during their Los Angeles deployment. Reuters images showed Marines apprehending a civilian, restraining him and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security — Reuters (@Reuters) June 14, 2025 It is uncommon for active-duty troops to be used domestically during civil disturbances. The last time the military was used for direct police action was in 1992, when the California governor at the time asked then President George HW Bush to invoke the Insurrection Act to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King. The US military confirmed Marines in Los Angeles have detained a civilian for the first time, after being shown this photo by Reuters. Earlier, two defense officials said Marines are authorized to TEMPORARILY detain people if 'threatened' or 'harassed.' This was outside the… — Carl Nasman (@CarlNasman) June 13, 2025 A court decided on Thursday that Trump can keep his deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles for now.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marines in LA as ‘No Kings' protest looms
LOS ANGELES - Roughly 200 U.S. Marines moved into Los Angeles Friday to protect federal buildings amid continuing protests over ongoing immigration raids. What we know Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51, said the deployment of Marines in the LA area will free up National Guard troops, who have been primarily protecting federal property over the past week. With the help of the Marines, National Guard troops will now serve a more protective role for federal agents conducting enforcement operations in the field. "I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities," Sherman told reporters during a morning briefing. "Rather, they'll be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel." Sherman said some National Guard troops have already been doing protective work for federal agents conducting immigration enforcement activities, but they have not engaged in any police-type work or made any arrests or detentions. RELATED:National Guard in LA: Why is Newsom suing the Trump administration? Marines began arriving around midday Friday at the federal building in West Los Angeles. By mid-afternoon, more than a dozen were stationed outside the 17-story Wilshire Federal Building, replacing some members of the National Guard at various entrances. They mostly appeared to be checking tickets from members of the public who were there to renew their passports. Sherman said the U.S. Marine Corps is responsible for guarding U.S. embassies overseas so they are well-trained on how to defend a federal building. Their arrival comes a day ahead of the planned 'No Kings' protests which are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and across the nation. The No Kings Day of Defiance is expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. The protest coincides with a planned military parade in Washington, D.C. that celebrates the Army's 250th birthday and President Trump's 79th birthday. "From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like," organizers said on the official No Kings website. SUGGESTED:' No Kings' anti-Trump protests planned in California: Here's when and where List: 'No Kings' anti-Trump protest locations in LA, Southern California The protests are in affiliation with the 50501 movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement. Ahead of Saturday's events, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna and CHP Deputy Commissioner Ezery Beauchamp held a joint news conference at LAPD headquarters on Friday to discuss law-enforcement preparations aimed at keeping the numerous demonstrations peaceful. Their message was clear: Law enforcement is fully prepared and will arrest anyone who commits a crime or incites violence. The Source Information for this story came from Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman and previous FOX 11 reports. City News Service contributed.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Marines seen standing guard at a federal building in Los Angeles
Marines were seen standing guard outside a federal building in Los Angeles on Friday (June 13, 2025) as they started to take over some posts from National Guard members after protests erupted last week over immigration raids and President Donald Trump deployed the troops to the city. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander of Task Force 51 who is overseeing the 4,700 combined troops, said the Marines finished training on civil disturbance and are starting their operations by replacing Guard troops guarding the Wilshire Federal Building, which houses several federal offices. Guard soldiers can then be assigned to protect more law enforcement agents on raids, Maj. Gen. Sherman said. About 200 Marines out of the 700 deployed to the protests are in the city, Maj. Gen. Sherman said. It's unclear if the Marines will eventually provide security on raids. Dozens of Marines were seen standing at the entrance to the 17-story Wilshire Federal Building midday Friday (June 13, 2025). They were wearing combat gear and carrying rifles as they mingled with Guard members, who have been checking IDs of people entering the parking lot. It is the same building that Democratic U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla on Thursday (June 12, 2025) was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about the immigration raids. As the Trump administration targets migrants around the country for detainment and deportation, the raids have led to the arrests of asylum-seekers, people who overstayed their visas and migrants awaiting their day in immigration court. The Marines are taking their posts a day after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that had directed Mr Trump to return control of Guard troops to California, shortly after a federal judge had ruled the Guard deployment was illegal, violated the Tenth Amendment, which defines power between federal and state governments, and exceeded Mr Trump's statutory authority. Some 2,000 Guard troops have been in the city this week. Hundreds have provided protection to immigration agents making arrests. Another 2,000 Guard members were notified of deployment earlier this week. None of the military troops will be detaining anyone, Maj. Gen. Sherman said. 'I would like to emphasise that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities,' Maj. Gen. Sherman said. 'Rather, they'll be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel.' Roughly 500 Guard members have been used to provide security on immigration raids after undergoing expanded instruction, legal training and rehearsals with the agents doing the enforcement before they go on those missions. An 8 p.m. curfew has been in place in a 2.5-square-kilometer section of downtown. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 1,295 sq km. Protests have ended after a few hours with arrests this week largely for failure to disperse. On the third night of the curfew, officers with the Department of Homeland Security deployed flash bangs to disperse a crowd that had gathered near a jail, sending protesters sprinting away. As with the past two nights, the hours long demonstrations remained peaceful and upbeat, drawing a few hundred attendees who marched through downtown chanting, dancing and poking fun at the Trump administration's characterisation of the city as a 'war zone.' The protests began Friday (June 6, 2025) 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. Elsewhere, demonstrations have picked up across the U.S., emerging in more than a dozen major cities. Some have led to clashes with police, and hundreds have been arrested. Demonstrations are expected over the weekend in cities across the United States, and governors are weighing what to do should Mr Trump send troops to other states for immigration enforcement. California Governor Gavin Newsom has called the troop deployment a 'serious breach of state sovereignty' and a power grab by Mr Trump, and he has gone to court to stop it. The President has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilise federal service members when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' Under federal law, active-duty forces are prohibited by law from conducting law enforcement. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put 5,000 Guard members on standby in cities where demonstrations are planned. In other Republican-controlled states, Governors have not said when or how they may deploy troops. A group of Democratic Governors earlier signed a statement this week calling Mr Trump's deployments 'an alarming abuse of power.' The Trump administration has said the troops are necessary to protect federal officers and quell unrest. In Los Angeles, troops work in shifts, and the public is likely to only see a few hundred out at a time, Maj. Gen. Sherman said. So far, the protests have been centred mostly downtown near City Hall and a federal detention centre where some immigrants are being held. Much of the sprawling city has been spared from the protests. There have been about 500 arrests since Saturday (June 7, 2025), the vast majority of which were for failing to leave the area at the request of law enforcement, according to the police department. There have been a handful of more serious charges, including for assault against officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun. Nine officers have been hurt, mostly with minor injuries.
