More than 17,000 military personnel are already deployed, a number equivalent to the contingents present in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan
The National Guard has mobilized some 66,700 soldiers across the country in response to riots during protests over the death of African-American George Floyd during a police arrest.
Of that number, more than 17,000 are already deployed in support of state and local security forces to prevent unrest, that is, the equivalent of the troops currently deployed in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
This is in addition to the 45,000 National Guard members assigned to coronavirus-related missions in all 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.
Furthermore, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Force (ICE) has deployed troops across the country in response to the unrest. Among them are the so-called Special Response Teams.
“In light of civil unrest across the country, ICE Special Response Teams have been dispatched to protect agency facilities and participate in supporting the Federal Protection Service and local, state and federal security forces “An ICE spokesperson explained in statements to CNN.
The ICE has not specified where or how many troops have been deployed, although it has been indicated that they will not carry out immigration enforcement efforts.
Thousands of people have demonstrated across the country after Floyd’s death on May 25, after being reduced with a knee to the neck by a white agent who is already detained and charged with third-degree murder.
