US Marines detain first civilian in LA amidst protests
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Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian on Friday, the US military confirmed after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active-duty troops deployed there by President Donald Trump.
The incident took place at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles where Marines took charge of the mission to protect the building earlier on Friday, in a rare domestic use of US troops after days of protests over immigration raids.
Reuters images showed Marines apprehending the man, restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security.
Asked about the incident, the US military's Northern Command spokesperson said active duty forces "may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances."
Ensuring our Marines are ready to serve! 2nd Bn, 7th Marines supports #LosAngeles under @USArmyNorth's #TaskForce51, prioritizing rest & recovery for maximum operational effectiveness. Stay informed https://t.co/P3Frxch5Gw pic.twitter.com/RgOZdo8X7g — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) June 13, 2025
"Any temporary detention ends immediately when the individual(s) can be safely transferred to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel," a spokesperson said.
Speaking to reporters after he was released, the civilian identified himself as Marcos Leao, 27. Leao said he was an Army veteran on his way to an office of the Department of Veterans Affairs when he crossed a yellow tape boundary and was asked to stop.
Leao, who gained his US citizenship through military service, said he was treated "very fairly."
"They're just doing their job," said Leao, who is of Angolan and Portuguese descent.
The 200 Marines and more than 2,000 National Guard now deployed to Los Angeles are tasked with protecting federal property and federal personnel.
They will be joined by an additional 500 Marines and 2,000 more National Guard soldiers.
This means that they will accompany ICE agents on raids, officials have said.
Ensuring our Marines are ready to serve! 2nd Bn, 7th Marines supports #LosAngeles under @USArmyNorth's #TaskForce51, prioritizing rest & recovery for maximum operational effectiveness. Stay informed https://t.co/P3Frxch5Gw pic.twitter.com/RgOZdo8X7g — U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) June 13, 2025
The troops are authorized to detain people who pose a threat to federal personnel or property, but only until police can arrest them. Military officials are not allowed to carry out arrests themselves.
The Posse Comitatus Act generally forbids the US military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement.
Trump could take a more far-reaching step by invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement.
Read: US Marines deployed to LA
US Marines were deployed to Los Angeles on June 13, the military said, in a rare domestic use of its forces after days of protests over immigration raids and as nationwide demonstrations were expected on Saturday, in the biggest backlash since President Donald Trump returned to power.
About 200 Marines will protect a federal building in Los Angeles, Army Major General Scott Sherman said on Friday.
The administration has authorized a total of 700 Marines to be deployed in the city. Neither the Marines nor National Guard troops in the city have temporarily detained anyone, he added.
"I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities," he said during a briefing.
US Marines made the first known detention of a civilian during their Los Angeles deployment. Reuters images showed Marines apprehending a civilian, restraining him and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security https://t.co/6IXjJSCYfC pic.twitter.com/7SltHG3Qr8 — Reuters (@Reuters) June 14, 2025
It is uncommon for active-duty troops to be used domestically during civil disturbances.
The last time the military was used for direct police action was in 1992, when the California governor at the time asked then President George HW Bush to invoke the Insurrection Act to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King.
The US military confirmed Marines in Los Angeles have detained a civilian for the first time, after being shown this photo by Reuters.
Earlier, two defense officials said Marines are authorized to TEMPORARILY detain people if 'threatened' or 'harassed.'
This was outside the… pic.twitter.com/WbqxjkHoII — Carl Nasman (@CarlNasman) June 13, 2025
A court decided on Thursday that Trump can keep his deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles for now.
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