Military troops are protecting federal immigration enforcement agents as they conduct sweeps for illegal immigrants in California. On Tuesday, the Trump administration detailed the role National Guardsmen are playing to provide cover for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they target illegal immigrants in Los Angeles.

The peaceful protest began shortly after 6 p.m. and soon tripled in size as people congregated in front of a road closure, occupied by at least six members of the California National Guard on

"The President has chosen to protect federal officers and LA citizens because Governor Newsom has refused to do so," Rep. Kevin Kiley told Newsweek.

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

It's been five days since anti-ICE demonstrations erupted in Los Angeles, some turning violent between protesters and law enforcement officers, prompting President Trump to deploy National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines.

Hundreds of U.S. Marines are headed to Los Angeles due to ongoing anti-ICE protests, as state officials vowed to sue over the deployment of National Guard troops.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration for federalizing the National Guard in L.A. County over the weekend, saying the president abused his authority.

California governor and federal officials traded blame after ICE raids and a violent protest rocked the L.A.-area city of Paramount.

Protests over immigration raids stretched into a fifth night in Los Angeles and spread to other cities, including New York, Chicago and Milwaukee, prompting clashes between police and demonstrators.