Nationwide ICE protests live updates: Judge's ruling on National Guard temporarily blocked

Several people protesting ICE detentions were arrested in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday. Officers began detaining people after the protest, which started in Foley Square near City Hall, began moving down Broadway before being stopped by police at the intersection of Broadway and Duane.

The arrests appeared to take place after protesters did not clear a crosswalk when ordered to by police.

Hundreds of protesters remain in the area, chanting behind barriers, with dozens of officers standing by.

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.

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.

Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander of U.S. military forces in Los Angeles, told ABC News that about 500 of the National Guard troops have been trained to accompany ICE on immigration operations.

The general stressed, however, that these troops are not carrying out law enforcement in these operations. That is being done by the ICE agents and the trained troops are carrying out protection for ICE during these operations.

The service members have ammunition in their clips for their rifles, but there are no rounds in the chamber, according to Sherman.

There are 4,700 troops, made up of National Guardsmen and Marines, deployed to Los Angeles.