United States Customs and Border Protection confirmed the deployment of Predator drones over Los Angeles to assist with federal law enforcement during ongoing protests. This move reflects a growing trend of federal presence in local law enforcement efforts, with similar drone usage noted in past protests. The use of military-grade UAVs raises concerns about the militarization of domestic policing especially as more federal resources are sent into California against state governance wishes, reminiscent of past instances during civil unrest.
Military gear has been used for domestic law enforcement for a long time, but flying military gear over LA at a time when the president has sent military units against the wishes of the governor is noteworthy.
CBP's MQ-9 Reaper drones, also known as Predator B drones, are military-caliber UAVs used for aerial reconnaissance that can be armed.
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