Trump claims the troops are quelling protests. But California officials fear their real mission is bigger: militarizing mass deportation.

On Tuesday, the X page for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted photos of California National Guardsmen on the scene of a detention being carried out by an ICE agent with the caption "Photos from today's ICE Los Angeles immigration enforcement operation."

President Trump’s assertions that federal troops have saved the city from destruction did not appear to reflect reality.

Los Angeles residents and experts say that the National Guard's presence in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests is reminiscent of a long-standing dynamic in the state and around the country.

Latest news and live updates as over 200 arrested in L.A. and National Guard to be deployed in Texas as rallies continue nationwide

About 500 of the National Guard troops deployed to the Los Angeles protests have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations, the commander in charge said Wednesday

The National Guard has at times detained protesters in its deployment to Los Angeles, an official said Wednesday, as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs enforcement raids spread to other major cities.

About 100 arrests in LA Monday night. On Monday night, 14 people were arrested for looting and 96 people were arrested for failure to disperse in downtown LA, the

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has argued that the deployment is “an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act.”