The commander overseeing U.S. military operations in Los Angeles said Wednesday that troops deployed to the city can temporarily detain individuals if necessary but cannot make arrests, clarifying their authority amid ongoing protests.
Joint Task Force 51 is the military’s name for the 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines deployed to the Greater Los Angeles Area to protect federal buildings and federal personnel in the wake of protests that began after recent ICE operations across the city.
“We’re there to protect their federal officers, their federal personnel,” Sherman said in the interview.
The general noted that in that kind of situation, federal law enforcement personnel would be “right next to you” and implied the term detention could just be the brief physical contact in subduing a person who has assaulted federal personnel.
Gavin Newsom filing a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s authority to deploy troops without state coordination.
The leader in charge of U. S. . In an effort to clarify their authority in the face of ongoing protests, military operations in Los Angeles said Wednesday that troops stationed there have the right to temporarily detain people if necessary but are not permitted to make arrests.
The Associated Press and ABC News interviewed Maj. General. Joint Task Force 51 commander Scott Sherman added that roughly 500 National Guard members have received training to accompany Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on raids to protect them with force.
The military has deployed 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines to the Greater Los Angeles Area as part of Joint Task Force 51 to protect federal personnel and buildings following protests that erupted following recent ICE operations throughout the city.
“Our purpose is to safeguard their federal officers and federal personnel,” Sherman stated during the interview. “We’re there to keep them safe so they can carry out their duties. “..”.
Sherman stated, “Soldiers or Marines are allowed to take that person, detain them in place, and wait for the federal law enforcement officer to come and arrest that individual,” in the event that those personnel are attacked. “,”.
In such a scenario, the general observed, federal law enforcement officers would be “right next to you.” He also hinted that the term “detention” might simply refer to the brief physical contact used to subdue an individual who has attacked federal personnel.
Sherman explained, “We think about it once the Guard member has his or her arm or holding that person, that’s when they’re detaining that person.”.
According to him, all of the Marines and National Guard members sent to Los Angeles have completed or are undergoing a few days of training in staging areas close to the city on crowd control techniques and the applicable rules of force.
Sherman told ABC News that approximately 500 members of the National Guard have also undergone specialized training to accompany ICE on immigration raid operations solely to protect them with force and not to perform law enforcement functions.
Sherman stated that the troops are participating in thorough “crawl, walk, run” rehearsals with ICE officers “so that we fully understand their operations,” considering this is the first time the Guard and ICE are collaborating. “.”.
Sherman told ICE that in order to “fully explain everything that you want or that you need for these Soldiers or Marines to protect you so you can do the operation,” they must be extremely thorough during those rehearsals. “,”.
Sherman did not know whether such operations would continue after the protests ended, even though some of the National Guardsmen have went with ICE on immigration raids.
Legal obstacles to the deployment include California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom is bringing legal action against the federal government for deploying troops without state coordination. The lawsuit contends that both state sovereignty and the Constitution’s 10th Amendment are violated by the deployment.
ICE officers were “attacked by an out of control mob of agitators, troublemakers, and/or insurrectionists,” according to President Donald Trump, who also accused Newsom of failing to protect them “in a timely manner.”. “,”.
“That is outside my purview,” Sherman said in response to a question concerning the legal challenge during a news conference on Wednesday morning. I’m here to manage things. “.”.
Even though the size of protests has decreased recently, Sherman stated in the interview that he anticipates “a ramp up” that might come from this weekend’s nationwide demonstrations.
Here in L, I’m focused. A. . what’s happening at this moment. However, you know, I believe we’re really worried. “,”.
