Federal Agents Sent To Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee As Operation Legend Expands

While the Department of Homeland Security has started withdrawing federal agents from Portland and Seattle, President Trump on Wednesday ordered the deployment of around 100 agents to Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee.

The deployment is part of the Trump administration's effort to expand Operation Legend, which looks to quell the uptick in violent crimes in several cities across the U.S. Agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, and other federal agencies will be split among the three cities to assist local and state officials with investigations.

Operation Legend was named for 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, a young boy killed on June 29 when his family's apartment was hit by gunfire.

"The Department of Justice's assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets," the Department of Justice said in a press release.

This comes hours after it was announced federal agents would begin withdrawing from Portland and a day after agents began leaving Seattle.

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said the agreement to withdraw agents was reached after Oregon and agency officials outlined a plan to protect federal property and authorities in Portland.

“That plan includes a robust presence of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland,” Wolf told reporters. “State and local law enforcement will begin securing properties and streets, especially those surrounding federal properties, that have been under nightly attack for the past two months.”

Wolf said some agents would remain in the city for the time being. He did not specify what branch agents would remain in Portland, but said a small force would remain until the department was sure federal properties were safe from the protests.

“This has been our mission and objective since the violent, criminal activity began,” Wolf said.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee also spoke about the withdrawal of federal agents from Seattle, which both he and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan opposed.

“This demobilization means Washingtonians no longer have to worry about the White House's aim to provoke confrontation and undermine peaceful protests,” Inslee told reporters.

“Those peacefully protesting have raised the public's consciousness of the urgent need for racial justice, and I have no doubt they will continue to use their voices to call for action. We must continue making progress toward a better and more just Washington for everyone.”

Homeland Security agents were sent to Seattle as a “reserve force” to protect federal property in case Black Lives Matter protests escalated in a manner similar to Portland over a week ago.