President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members to help respond to protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday defended the administration's mobilization of the National Guard and members of the Marine Corps to Los Angeles amid ongoing immigration protests.

National Guard members and Marines deployed to Los Angeles cannot perform law enforcement duties by law. That would change if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act.

After persistent questioning from members of Congress, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth turned to his acting comptroller, Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, who provided the amount it would cost to send the National Guard and Marines to immigration protests in Los Angeles.

Pentagon officials said the cost of deploying thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles is $134 million.

Military personnel assigned to Los Angeles increased to about 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he’ll sue the administration again.

A U.S. Northern Command spokesman said the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines were expected to head out by trucks to Los Angeles Monday night.

Defense sources tell NBC News hundreds of Marines are being mobilized to support National Guard members in Los Angeles as protests continue over the administration’s immigration policies. NBC News Correspondent David Noriega reports the latest on the ground.

About 700 Marines will work with National Guard troops to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents, officials said. President Trump moved on Monday to send another 2,