National Guard troops originally deployed to Los Angeles to assist with immigration protests were redirected over 100 miles to support federal operations against illegal marijuana farms in Riverside County. This shift, outlined in court documents filed by the Trump administration, has sparked legal disputes regarding the authority of deployment.
Approximately 315 National Guard personnel assisted the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in executing a federal search warrant at several suspected illegal marijuana farms in Thermal, located around 25 miles southeast of Palm Springs. During this operation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained between 70 and 75 workers for lacking proper documentation. Additionally, one U.S. citizen was arrested on charges related to obstructing law enforcement.
The National Guard’s involvement in this raid has fueled ongoing tensions between California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Trump over the federal government’s authority to command National Guard troops. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that Trump’s decision to deploy these troops in response to violence in Los Angeles was justified, allowing for continued federal control while legal arguments are presented in court. This ruling overturned a temporary restraining order that would have returned the troops to state control.
In a court filing on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office questioned whether the current situation in Los Angeles warranted the National Guard’s deployment, particularly in missions like the one in Riverside County, which do not directly relate to protecting federal personnel from harm. Trump’s legal team countered that the operation in the Coachella Valley aligns with the ongoing need for military support in immigration enforcement.
Ernesto Santacruz, director of ICE’s enforcement and removal operations in Los Angeles, noted that the presence of the National Guard has enabled his agency to conduct immigration enforcement operations, citing ongoing unrest as a contributing factor. However, the statement did not mention any issues of violence in Riverside County.
The DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division stated that assistance from various federal agencies was necessary for the large-scale operation, which covered 787 acres and involved extreme temperatures reaching 112 degrees Fahrenheit. The operation included personnel from multiple agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the FBI, and the IRS, totaling around 500 individuals.
During the raid, two men were discovered locked inside a trailer, highlighting potential safety concerns for individuals working on these farms. In response to the operation, Bonta’s team has requested further information regarding National Guard deployments and whether the federal government can effectively enforce immigration laws without military support.
This situation illustrates the complexities surrounding federal and state authority in law enforcement, particularly in relation to cannabis operations and immigration enforcement in California.
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