U.S. Northern Command Formed Task Force to Oversee Military Deployment in LA

USNORTHCOM established a task force on Sunday to manage the deployment of U.S. military assets into Los Angeles County after President Donald Trump ordered National Guard members there. This notice explained the federal response to protests against immigration raids.

A two-star general from U.S. Army North leads Task Force 51, which provides ground command and control for these federalized forces, according to USNORTHCOM. This task group brought 2,000 California National Guard members under federal supervision. 

President Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code on Armed Services, which allows the federalization of National Guard troops in cases of "rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority," to "temporarily protect" ICE agents, other federal personnel, and federal property under protest.

The California Army National Guard's 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team had 300 members in Compton, Paramount, and a federal complex in Downtown Los Angeles as of Sunday afternoon local time. The notification did not specify the timing for additional National Guard troops or Task Force 51 units.

USNORTHCOM also confirmed that 500 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, were "prepared to deploy status" to support the federal military mission. On Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said 500 Camp Pendleton Marines were ready.

The protests began on Friday, June 6, after immigration sweeps in Los Angeles County detained several dozen people. In Downtown Los Angeles that night, federal agents in tactical gear fled from protesters. At the same time, local police enforcement protested outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, next to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. President Trump mobilized "at least 2,000 National Guard personnel" on Saturday, June 7, when protests continued.