Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, including Los Angeles

About 700 Marines are still undergoing civil disturbance training at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County, said Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, head of the task force that's overseeing the deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles.

About 700 Marines are still undergoing civil disturbance training at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County.

Sherman wouldn't speculate about when the Marines might join the 2,000 or so Guard troops that have been deployed in downtown areas to protect federal buildings during sometimes violent demonstrations against President Trump's immigration crackdown.

"Our mission is to protect federal agencies, our federal partners, their personnel, as they conduct their federal mission," Sherman said.

Another 2,000 Guard soldiers are on duty and stationed at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

An immigrant in Los Angeles has been charged with one count of assault of a federal employee for allegedly spitting on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that the suspect, Omar Pulido Bastida, 41, faces a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison for the alleged crime.

The incident happened earlier this week when the officer was executing a warrant for Bastida's arrest, according to the DOJ. Bastida allegedly spat at the officer through an iron security gate on his door.

ICE officials eventually forced entry into the residence and arrested Bastida.

"This defendant found out the hard way: When you spit, we hit - with a felony charge," said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. "Law enforcement officers risk their lives and safety to uphold the law. To treat them with disrespect, like this defendant did, mocks our great nation and such behavior will be punished accordingly."

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced during a press conference on Wednesday that there have been at least five criminal cases stemming from the ongoing immigration protests in Los Angeles.

Juan Rodriguez, from Gardena, California, was charged with one felony count of assault upon a peace officer, resisting arrest and advocating violence against an officer that has caused injury. He faces six years and four months in state prison, according to the DA. Rodriguez is accused of distributing and throwing commercial-grade fireworks at police officers on June 8.

Randy Ruiz and Georgina Ravallaro were charged with two felony counts of assault upon a peace officer and face six years and four months in state prison. They are accused of driving motorcycles into police officers, injuring one and knocking down several others.

Timmy Paulk and Raven Mitchell have been charged with one felony count of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft for allegedly robbing and facilitating the robbery of a Nike store on June 8. Paul is accused of stealing multiple items from that store and getting into the car driven by Mitchell. They each face up to three years in state prison.

Ulysses Sanchez is accused of recklessly driving a minivan in downtown LA on June 8. He's charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, one misdemeanor count each of reckless driving and possession of a smoking device. He faces 25 years to life because of the three-strike rule.

The L.A. district attorney described the minivan driver as a "third-striker." If convicted, he faces 25 years to life because of the three-strike rule.

Christopher Gonzalez and Jocelyn Johnson have been charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit vandalism and two felony counts of vandalism. They face three years and eight months in state prison. They are accused of vandalizing an apartment complex and the Hall of Justice, respectively.

"If people want to engage in crimes, we will prosecute them," Hochman said, adding, "hurling bricks, hurling cinder blocks, hurling fireworks, will not be tolerated in this county now or ever."

The DA did note that peaceful protests have largely outweighed instances of violence. "We estimate that there's probably thousands of people who've engaged in legitimate protests," Hochman said.

Federal agents arrested a man in Boyle Heights after a crash. The chaotic scene was captured by surveillance video.

A Wednesday morning crash in Boyle Heights was initially investigated as a possible assault with a deadly weapon involving federal agents who left the scene, LAPD said. But Homeland Security told ABC7 that agents were taking a man into custody.

The collision was reported at 10:47 a.m. in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told ABC7. Witnesses said federal agents in two unmarked vehicles -- a pickup truck and an SUV -- were involved in the incident, along with a civilian vehicle, a white sedan.

No serious injuries were immediately reported.

Aerial video from AIR7 showed LAPD officers and Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters at the crash site. The federal vehicles apparently departed before a small crowd gathered on the sidewalk.

In a statement, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said it was not a hit-and-run.

"This was a targeted arrest of a violent rioter who punched a CBP officer. When Homeland Security Investigations tried to arrest Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho for the assault, he attempted to flee. He was ultimately arrested and taken into custody."

Click here to watch Leo Stallworth's report from the scene.