Federal agents ride on an armored vehicle at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)
California National Guard soldiers arriving in Humvee military vehicles backed a Monday sweep of a park in a neighborhood of Los Angeles heavily populated by immigrants, according to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
Guard troops were positioned on the perimeter of the 35-acre MacArthur Park as Customs and Border Protection agents in tactical gear and some on horseback slowly crossed the park, according to video from television station helicopters and online social media posts.
Video of the scene also showed dozens of white vans parked at the western end of the park. The vans have been used in earlier sweeps to transport people who were arrested. Four tactical vehicles and two ambulances were also on the scene.
About 90 California Guard soldiers and 17 military Humvees took part in the action, according to a report by The Associated Press that cited an unnamed federal official. The troops were there to support the federal agents and were not involved in the sweep across the park, the official said.
President Donald Trump sent 4,000 Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles last month to support immigration enforcement sweeps. The military in L.A. is part of Task Force 51, Army North’s Contingency Command Post led by Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman. As leader of the mission, Sherman reports to U.S. Northern Command.
NORTHCOM and Army North officials could not be reached Monday for comment. CBP, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, did not return a request for comment on the number of arrests from the operation.
On Monday, activists with bullhorns swiftly arrived at the park soon after the officers and troops arrived, announcing to those in the area that federal agents were in the park.
During the sweep, Bass appeared at the park and was videotaped talking to CBP officials on a CBP agent’s cell phone. Just before noon, Bass posted video of the sweep on her official mayor’s account on X:
“Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing — then, the MILITARY comes through. The SECOND I heard about this, I went to the park to speak to the person in charge to tell them it needed to end NOW. Absolutely outrageous,” Bass’ post read.
By noon, television news helicopters flying over the park showed federal agents and Guard troops had moved on.
Los Angeles has been the center of federal immigration enforcement since Trump sent troops to the city in June. The Marines have guarded federal facilities in the city, while the Guard has guarded buildings and provided support to CBP, ICE and other federal officers involved in sweeps and arrests in the region.
One unit of slightly more than 300 soldiers was detailed briefly to assist in the raid of an illegal marijuana farm in Riverside County.
The official who spoke Monday to the AP said the primary role of the service members would be to protect the immigration enforcement officers in case a hostile crowd gathered. They are not participating in any law enforcement activities such as arrests, but service members can temporarily detain citizens if necessary before handing them over to law enforcement, the official said.
NORTHCOM’s website stated Monday that troops deployed to the “Federal Protection Mission” in the L.A. area are now:
• 700 Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, who replaced the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, on July 1.
• About 2,000 soldiers from the 49th Military Police Brigade of the California National Guard, activated June 17.
• About 2,000 soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, activated June 10.
About 200 Guard troops were sent back to their units to prepare to fight wildfires that regularly flare in Southern California this time of year.
Officials at MacArthur Park told reporters at the scene that it was “not a military operation” but acknowledged the size and scope of the Guard’s participation could make it “look like one” to the public.
