When President Donald Trump put 2,000 National Guard troops under his control on Saturday night and ordered them into Los Angeles, it was billed as an urgent response to quell protests. But it was also a move long in the making.

Military troops are protecting federal immigration enforcement agents as they conduct sweeps for illegal immigrants in California. On Tuesday, the Trump administration detailed the role National Guardsmen are playing to provide cover for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they target illegal immigrants in Los Angeles.

But what does a state's National Guard do that local or state law enforcement can't? The National Guard is almost always called upon by a state's governor. Their job is broad, ess

There are currently 4,100 California National Guardsmen and 700 Marines in the greater Los Angeles area after President Donald Trump ordered them to protect federal buildings and federal law enforcement as protests opposed to ICE raids increased over the weekend.

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

Army veteran and former Secretary of State Chuck Hagel talks about the potential risks about having military troops deployed in L.A.

About 500 of the Guard troops deployed to the protests have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations, he said. Sherman initially said National Guard troops had temporarily detained some civilians.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forcefully defended the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during a hearing on Tuesday.