On Friday, US Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian, marking a significant event as it is the first known detention by active-duty troops sent under the orders of former President Donald Trump. The Marines took control of the Wilshire federal building as part of an unusual domestic deployment of military forces in response to ongoing protests against immigration raids.
Photographs released by Reuters showed Marines apprehending the civilian, restraining his hands with zip ties, and subsequently transferring him to officials from the Department of Homeland Security. When questioned about the incident, a spokesperson for the US military’s northern command stated that active-duty forces “may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances.” The spokesperson emphasized that “any temporary detention ends immediately when the individual(s) can be safely transferred to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel.”
Approximately 200 Marines arrived in Los Angeles on Friday morning, a move that followed Trump’s controversial decision to send national guard troops to the city the previous weekend, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom. According to US Army Maj Gen Scott Sherman, who commands the taskforce, the Marines were tasked with protecting the federal building.
The protests had largely remained calm overnight leading into Friday, entering their seventh day while an overnight curfew was enacted in parts of downtown Los Angeles. The civilian who was detained, identified as Marcos Leao, a 27-year-old army veteran, explained to reporters that he was on his way to the Department of Veterans Affairs when he crossed a taped-off area and was asked to stop. Leao, who became a US citizen through his military service, described the treatment he received as “very fair,” stating, “They’re just doing their job.”
Demonstrations have also occurred in various cities, including New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Austin, in response to Trump’s aggressive immigration policies targeting undocumented communities within the US. Millions of individuals are expected to participate in nationwide protests dubbed “No Kings,” scheduled for Saturday at around 2,000 locations, criticizing what many perceive as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies.
The timing of these mass protests coincides with Trump's planned military parade in Washington, DC, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which interestingly falls on his 79th birthday. The protests in Los Angeles and Trump's deployment of California’s national guard represent a significant moment in US history, as such a military action has not occurred in the country for over fifty years. This has led to a legal dispute between the president and Governor Newsom.
On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the deployment of troops by the president to assist with civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles should be halted. Following this ruling, the administration quickly appealed, and a higher court temporarily paused the restraining order until a hearing on Tuesday. Judge Charles Breyer's ruling in the case of Newsom v. Trump stated that Trump had unlawfully circumvented necessary congressional procedures.
In an interview, Newsom criticized Trump, calling him a “stone cold liar” for claiming he had discussed the troop deployment with the governor. Many Democrats and advocacy groups consider Trump's military deployment to be an abuse of power aimed at suppressing free speech and reinforcing stringent anti-immigration policies. This deployment follows Trump’s earlier, unfulfilled threats during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, where he contemplated deploying federal troops but ultimately chose not to.
Amidst the ongoing political turmoil, some members of the national guard deployed to Los Angeles, along with their families, have expressed unease regarding their mission, feeling it embroils them in a politically charged environment. Sarah Streyder from the Secure Families Initiative stated, “The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for.”
In light of the political and legal ramifications, arrests have continued, although reports of early looting have diminished. Notably, Jose Manuel Mojica, a 30-year-old father of four, faces charges for allegedly assaulting a federal officer during a protest in Paramount, a community in southern Los Angeles County. Additionally, Alex Padilla, a Democratic US senator from California, was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, while attempting to ask a question. This incident, captured on video, has since gone viral, raising concerns about the treatment of civilians amidst the heightened security measures.
As the nation prepares for the upcoming military parade and the protests, the political climate continues to evolve, with public sentiment firmly divided over the use of military forces in domestic matters.
