In a major development following President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles County, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) formally announced the creation of Task Force 51 on Sunday.
The new task force, commanded by a two-star general from U.S. Army North, was established to provide command and control over the federal military presence responding to civil unrest linked to immigration enforcement protests.
The announcement brought clarity to the military’s role in the region, which had remained somewhat vague since Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deployment on Saturday.
“As USNORTHCOM’s land component command, U.S. Army North stood up Task Force 51, with a two-star general, as the ground command and control element over the Title 10 forces,” the command confirmed in a statement.
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Approximately 2,000 California National Guard soldiers have been federalized under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which authorizes federal control of National Guard units during times of rebellion or imminent threat to federal authority.
These forces are tasked with the temporary protection of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, other federal personnel, and federal property across Los Angeles County.
According to USNORTHCOM, “Trump ordered that National Guard members be federalized and sent to Los Angeles to ‘temporarily protect’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as well as other federal personnel… who are performing Federal functions, including the enforcement of Federal law, and to protect Federal property.”
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By Sunday afternoon, 300 troops from the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were already on the ground in key locations, including the cities of Compton and Paramount, and at a federal complex in Downtown Los Angeles. Additional deployments are expected, though it remains unclear when or which units will join the effort.
To further bolster the mission, USNORTHCOM also confirmed that approximately 500 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines — stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms — are on standby in a “prepared to deploy status.”
On Saturday, Hegseth had mentioned similar preparations involving Marines from Camp Pendleton, though it’s unclear if both groups refer to the same unit.
The federal mobilization comes in response to a wave of protests sparked by recent immigration raids in Los Angeles County.
The protests began Friday, after federal authorities detained several dozen individuals during targeted operations.
Demonstrators confronted ICE agents and federal officers in Downtown Los Angeles, forcing them to retreat in some instances.
That evening, tensions escalated outside the Metropolitan Detention Center near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.
The unrest continued through the weekend, prompting Trump’s directive to mobilize “at least 2,000 National Guard personnel.” On Sunday, National Guard troops were observed stationed around a loading dock at the downtown federal complex.
At one point, they joined local police in a surge into Alameda Street, using riot shields and tear gas to disperse crowds and allow Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol vehicles to enter the premises.
As the demonstrations moved closer to the area, law enforcement escalated their response, using tear gas and less-than-lethal projectiles to disperse protesters and block access to key streets.
The federal deployment has drawn criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who on Sunday submitted a formal request to the Trump administration urging it to rescind the order.
In his letter, Newsom stated, “There is currently no need for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles.” He called for the California National Guard to be returned to state control, arguing that local authorities were adequately managing the situation.
Despite growing concern from state leaders, federal officials have maintained that the deployment is necessary to ensure the safety of personnel and property performing federal duties amid rising tensions.
The situation in Los Angeles remains fluid, with additional deployments and responses expected in the coming days as authorities attempt to restore order and ensure the continuity of federal operations.
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