United States: In a dramatic yet calculated move, President Donald Trump took command of 2,000 National Guard troops Saturday night, thrusting them into the heart of Los Angeles not merely as a response to roiling unrest, but as a manifestation of a premeditated federal stratagem. While the move was branded urgent, insiders affirm it was an operation simmering in shadowed corridors of power for months.

Officials privy to inner discussions at the White House and Department of Homeland Security disclosed that the groundwork for enlisting military support in immigration enforcement had long been in motion. The aim: radically amplify immigration arrests, pushing an already strained enforcement infrastructure to new frontiers.

To this end, the administration pulled agents from various departments — a cross-agency infusion meant to empower Immigration and Customs Enforcement beyond its limits.

“We’re fortifying the field, plain and simple,” declared White House border chief Tom Homan to CNN. “This is a mammoth job, and we need every resource possible — ATF, FBI, US Marshals — all hands on deck.”

Homan emphasized that the National Guard’s assignment isn’t to enforce immigration law directly, but to serve as tactical shielding for federal agents and sensitive property targeted during unrest, according to reports by CNN.

Relentless White House Pressure Fuels Expanded Reach

Despite the influx of federal officers sweeping across the US, results initially lagged behind Trump administration ambitions. This triggered internal reshuffling at ICE and tense engagements with Stephen Miller, Trump’s principal policy architect for immigration control.

ICE has since doubled its daily arrest average, leaping from around 1,000 to 2,000. Miller, often situated in the White House Situation Room during Homeland Security briefings, reportedly remained unyielding — insisting operations persist without deviation.

Plans to tap the military’s might for immigration control didn’t begin with California’s unrest. Sources confirmed that as early as February, discussions emerged about deploying troops from agreeable states to act as a security buffer for federal operations, far beyond the southern border.

More controversially, internal talk involved leveraging Republican-led states’ National Guard forces for operations in Democratic-controlled regions, circumventing consent where possible due to state-level command latitude.

“They’re clearly blueprinting the LA model for replication,” remarked a senior source with access to these strategy sessions.

Disputed Deployment: California’s Show of Defiance

Trump’s directive overrode California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, though notably, the troops originated from within California’s Guard — not an out-of-state influx. Still, the use of active-duty Marines in Los Angeles to control crowds perplexed several Department of Defense officials, one noting it served more as symbolic posturing than tactical necessity.

Parallel to boots on the ground, the Trump administration is scouting military bases as potential migrant holding sites. Defense staffers recently escorted CBP personnel through installations like Travis AFB (CA), Camp Atterbury (IN), Dover AFB (DE), and Fort Walker (VA), among others.

“Military sites have always been an option,” said Homan, pressing Congress for further funds. “We’re almost at our ceiling.”

Federal figures show ICE’s capacity nearing its brink — 55,000 in custody versus funding for just 41,500 beds. “We’re operating at 95% or more,” Homan acknowledged grimly.

20,000 Troop Surge Request Hints at Broader Intent

The broader design became public last month when DHS formally requested 20,000 National Guard troops from the Pentagon. Their roles? Processing, transportation, securing detention perimeters, and supporting night operations and remote intercepts, as reported by CNN.

The Pentagon, still weighing how many troops to allocate, received public signals from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Trump’s directive may soon be invoked beyond California. His remarks hinted at a sweeping federal capability poised to intervene wherever civil discord threatens federal operations.

Hegseth emphasized the order’s proactive nature: “If other regions erupt and enforcement is overwhelmed, we’ll be ready to surge support immediately.” The presidential memo didn’t tie the deployment to any specific geography — instead, it activated a blanket authorization targeting all locales deemed vulnerable to protests or anti-federal actions.

“In most states, the governors grasp the urgency and are willing collaborators,” Hegseth stated. “California’s governor, however, plays political theater.”

Governor Newsom fired back, labeling the administration’s methods authoritarian. “Today it’s California — tomorrow it’s your state. This is not just about borders, this is about democracy itself,” he warned in a defiant speech.

Guard as Backup: Strategic Multiplication in Play

In states where governors support the president, National Guard units are being green-lit as strategic force multipliers. For example, Texas Governor Greg Abbott affirmed his state’s Guard stands ready to assist if unrest ignites there.

Even without invoking the Insurrection Act — which permits direct law enforcement duties by the military — Guard troops can still detain individuals temporarily and provide security buffers for federal agents. On Tuesday, ICE published visuals on X showing Guard soldiers shielding ICE operatives as they apprehended a suspect in California, according to CNN.

“These troops are not enforcing law — they’re insulating our federal personnel from threats while ensuring high-risk removals are carried out safely,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

She added, “If ICE agents are attacked, our soldiers can restrain aggressors until local law steps in.”