Why Were DHS Agents Seemingly Monitoring Multiple Tea Party IRS Protests Across the Country on Tuesday?

There were multiple reported sightings of agents with the Department of Homeland Security at several Tea Party-led IRS protests in states like Missouri, Florida, Illinois and Indiana. The rallies that occurred across the country on Tuesday were sparked by the IRS' unfair targeting of conservative groups -- one of the several scandals the Obama administration is dealing with.

What is unclear though is why federal officials felt the Tea Party presence required more than the attention of local law enforcement.

These photos, one showing "armed" DHS guards, were reportedly taken at the St. Louis IRS protest:

(Photo source: Jim Hoft, Gateway Pundit)

(Photo source: Jim Hoft, Gateway Pundit)

In Maitland, Fla., just north of Orlando, a Tea Party-led IRS protest also reportedly attracted the Department of Homeland Security. Photos apparently snapped at that particular protest show at least one DHS vehicle at the site of the rally.

In one of the photos, a women poses in front of the DHS SUV with a sign that reads: "Hey IRS! Don't target me, bro!"

(Photo source: BizPacReview)

(Photo source: BizPacReview)

A woman in Fort Wayne, Ind., found herself all alone at the scheduled rally outside the IRS office on Tuesday. However, she was reportedly accompanied by three visible security guards in the IRS parking lot, which included a Homeland Security officer.

(Photo credit: News-Sentinel.com)

Then there's this photo of a DHS vehicle passing by that was supposedly taken at the IRS protest in Downers Grove, Ill. The vehicle reportedly passed by the protest twice.

(Photo source: ChampionNews.Net)

It would be helpful to find out if DHS presence was customary during rowdy "Occupy" protests, which many times spun out of control and resulted in property damage and injuries (not to mention drug use). TheBlaze will reach out to DHS for comment on the matter on Wednesday.

The Tea Party protests on Tuesday appear to have concluded without any incidents.