Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman said 500 National Guard members have been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations.

National Guard troops already have temporarily detained civilians in the Los Angeles protests over immigration raids.

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.

Anti-ICE protests continue in Los Angeles after the National Guard was deployed following immigration enforcement actions.

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

4:47 p.m. EDT The Trump administration asked the judge to reject Newsom’s request and allow it to respond by Wednesday, calling Newsom’s attempt to block the deployment of federal troops “legally meritless” and saying it would jeopardize the safety of Homeland Security personnel and interfere with the government’s ability to carry out operations.

The Guard’s arrival marks a potentially volatile phase in Trump’s push to ramp up deportations and in his contentious relationship with state and local authorities.