President Donald Trump’s deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, ostensibly to quell protests, was part of a broader strategy to enhance immigration enforcement. The White House and Department of Homeland Security had been planning to utilize the military for immigration operations across the country, aiming to increase arrests significantly. This approach has strained existing enforcement resources, leading to a collaboration with various agencies to bolster Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s capabilities.

While White House officials emphasized the necessity of this expansion, concerns arose about the use of military forces, including the deployment of active-duty Marines for crowd control in Los Angeles. Discussions within the administration explored leveraging National Guard units from Republican-led states in non-consenting states, indicating a potential replication of the LA deployment elsewhere.

Additionally, the administration sought to utilize military facilities to detain migrants due to overcrowding in ICE facilities. With ICE detention space nearly maxed out and increasing arrests, the administration eyed military bases as potential holding locations. Despite pushback from some governors and officials, the administration aimed to deploy National Guard units with permissions to support immigration enforcement efforts.

Overall, the administration’s mobilization of military forces for immigration enforcement underscores a controversial and multifaceted approach to address immigration challenges, with ongoing debates about the legality and appropriateness of such actions.