Hegseth says Nationwide Guard, Marines mobilized to L.A. as a result of “we believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations”

Washington — Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday defended the administration’s mobilization of the Nationwide Guard and members of the Marine Corps to Los Angeles amid ongoing immigration protests. 

“We believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations and we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties because we ought be able to enforce immigration law in this country,” Hegseth stated Tuesday, testifying earlier than the Home Appropriations Subcommittee on Protection. 

Hegseth claimed ICE brokers are “being attacked for doing their job, which is deporting illegal criminals.”

“If they’re attacked, that’s lawless, and President Trump believes in law and order,” Hegseth stated, arguing the president “has every authority.”

In response to performing Protection Division comptroller Bryn MacDonnell, who was additionally tesifying Tuesday, the estimated price of deploying the Nationwide Guard can be $134 million. MacDonnell stated the cash will come from operations and upkeep accounts.

Pete Hegseth, the secretary of protection, throughout a Home Appropriations Subcommittee on Protection listening to in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos

“I would do it if I were Tom,” Mr. Trump stated. “Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”

Hegseth says Protection can cowl price range contingencies to take care of “law and order in a major American city.”

The developments come as Hegseth is testifying Tuesday earlier than the appropriations panel on the administration’s proposed price range. Requested about the price of mobilizing the Nationwide Guard and Marine Corps to California and the influence on the price range, Hegseth stated the Protection Division has the potential to “cover down on contingencies,” particularly “as important as maintaining law and order in a major American city.”


Troops within the area are “very well prepared,” Hegseth says

Requested about circumstances for Nationwide Guard troops in Los Angeles, as Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar of California expressed “severe concern,” Hegseth stated troops within the area are “very well prepared” and “responded incredibly rapidly to a deteriorating situation, with equipment and capabilities.” “There are moments where you make do as best you can temporarily, but we are ensuring they’re housed, fed, water, capabilities in real time,” Hegseth stated. 

Eleanor Watson

contributed to this report.

Extra from CBS Information