As ICE raids ramp up in LA, questions arise over the necessity of military there

By Martin Kaste

Published June 19, 2025 at 4:59 AM EDT

Whether the National Guard stays in LA in response to protests over immigration is still tied up in the courts. But as the pace of ICE raids picks up, it isn't clear how much the military is needed.

Martin Kaste

Martin Kaste is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers law enforcement and privacy. He has been focused on police and use of force since before the 2014 protests in Ferguson, and that coverage led to the creation of NPR's Criminal Justice Collaborative.

See stories by Martin Kaste

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