Military Presence: The Role of U.S. Troops in Los Angeles
LA ROCKED BY FED TROOP DEPLOYMENT:
The US is sending 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amidst ongoing protests related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. Here's the lowdown:
THE SKINNY ON THE TROOPS:
National Guard troops are state-based, part-time folks who aid with emergencies like natural disasters. On the other hand, U.S. Marines are full-time, global conflict warriors. Both will fall under a task force called Task Force 51.
LEGALLY SPEAKING:
Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code, allowing deployment of National Guard units if the nation is invaded, rebelling, or the prez can't execute federal laws using regular forces. He can also deploy active-duty troops in limited domestic situations.
WHERE DID 'EM COME FROM?
Most Cal National Guard troops are Masenbach's 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team soldiers. The 700 Marines hail from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, stationed near LA at Twentynine Palms.
WHAT CAN THEY DO? WHAT CAN'T THEY DO?
Both National Guard troops and Marines will help protect federal property and personnel, occasionally accompanying ICE agents on raids. They can detain threatening individuals until cops take them into custody, but they can't perform arrests themselves. The Posse Comitatus Act generally forbids military from leading civilian law enforcement, but invoking the Insurrection Act could change that.
TRAINING TIME:
National Guard troops receive extensive domestic crowd control and civil unrest training. Marines get basic crowd control training but are not experts in domestic situations. They're getting two days of additional training emphasizing civil disturbance, crowd control, and facility protection before hitting the streets of LA.
WHAT'S THEIR TOOLKIT?
National Guard troops wield shields, batons, rifles, and regular protective gear for crowd control purposes. Marines' tools aren't publicly known, but they'll have riot shields, batons, and carry ammunition, although they won't have it in their rifles at first.
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- In the midst of the war-and-conflicts surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Los Angeles, the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines signifies a political move that has brought general-news attention to crime-and-justice matters.
- As the National Guard troops and U.S. Marines prepare to assist in protecting federal property and personnel in Los Angeles, their roles in crowd control and civil unrest situations raise questions about the intersection of politics, crime, and justice.
