U.S. troops deployed in Los Angeles have received authorization to detain individuals temporarily until local law enforcement can arrive to make formal arrests, as confirmed by their commanding officer on Wednesday.

According to Yahoo News, this decision comes amidst escalating tensions in the city, which is grappling with ongoing protests sparked by President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration enforcement actions.

As the protests entered their sixth consecutive day, demonstrations remained predominantly peaceful, although there were instances of violence.

The unrest has not been confined to Los Angeles; it has spread to multiple cities across the nation, with hundreds of additional demonstrations planned for Saturday.

Trump’s deployment of military forces to Los Angeles has ignited a nationwide debate regarding the appropriateness of utilizing the Armed Forces on American soil, particularly in a civil unrest context.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly opposed the move, leading to legal action as his administration has filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an attempt to halt the military’s involvement.

Military officials have indicated that the Marines and National Guard units may be called upon to safeguard federal personnel and property amid the immigration raids and associated protests.

Trump is pursuing a longstanding campaign promise to enforce stricter deportation policies, employing militarized tactics that critics argue are reminiscent of authoritarian regimes and counterproductive to the principles of democracy.

During an appearance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Trump claimed, “If I didn’t act quickly on that, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now,” framing his decision as a necessary and rapid response to a purported crisis.

U.S. Army Major General Scott Sherman, who oversees the troops on the ground, clarified to reporters that while the deployed forces include approximately 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard personnel, their role is limited to temporarily detaining individuals rather than making arrests.

“They do not conduct arrests. Their mandate is strictly to detain individuals until local law enforcement arrives to manage the demonstrators,” Sherman explained.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has sought further clarification from military leadership regarding their operational parameters.

“At this juncture, my understanding is that the military does not possess the authority to arrest or detain individuals,” Luna stated during a press conference.

The central issue of the military’s involvement is pivotal to California’s lawsuit, which contends that the deployment lacks adequate justification under the law, as no conditions warranting such military action—such as rebellion or imminent threat—have been established.

The state is also pursuing a temporary restraining order aimed at preventing the National Guard and Marines from engaging in any activities related to civilian law enforcement.