LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shortly after they began guarding a Los Angeles federal constructing Friday, U.S. Marines detained a person who had walked onto the property and didn’t instantly hear their instructions to cease.
The temporary detention marked the primary time federal troops have detained a civilian since they have been deployed to the nation’s second-largest metropolis by President Donald Trump in response to protests over the administration’s immigration arrests. The Marines have been activated earlier this week however started their duties Friday.
The person, Marcos Leao, was later launched with out costs and mentioned the Marines have been simply doing their jobs.
A U.S. Military North spokesperson mentioned the troops have the authority to briefly detain individuals underneath particular circumstances. He mentioned these detentions finish when the particular person may be transferred to “applicable civilian legislation enforcement personnel.”
Leao’s detention exhibits how the troops’ deployment is placing them nearer to finishing up legislation enforcement actions. Already, Nationwide Guard troopers have been offering safety on raids as Trump has promised as a part of his immigration crackdown.
Leao, a former Military fight engineer, mentioned he was dashing to get to a Veterans Affairs appointment when he stepped previous a chunk of warning tape exterior the federal constructing. He seemed as much as discover a Marine sprinting towards him.
“I had my headphones in, so I didn’t hear them,” Leao mentioned. “They advised me to get down on the bottom. I principally complied with all the things they have been saying.”
Leao was positioned in zip ties and held for greater than two hours by the Marines and members of the Nationwide Guard, he mentioned. After Los Angeles police arrived, he was launched with out costs, he mentioned. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Division mentioned they responded to a name on the scene however weren’t wanted, and no costs have been filed.
“I didn’t comprehend it was going to be this intense right here,” he mentioned later.
A U.S. official advised the AP {that a} civilian had stepped over the road. He was warned they’d take him down and so they did, in response to the official, who requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the matter.
About 200 Marines out of the 700 deployed arrived within the metropolis Friday, becoming a member of 2,000 members of the Nationwide Guard which were stationed exterior federal buildings this week in Los Angeles. One other 2,000 Guard members have been notified of deployment earlier this week.
Earlier than the bizarre deployment, the Pentagon scrambled to ascertain guidelines to information U.S. Marines who might be confronted with the uncommon and tough prospect of utilizing pressure towards residents on American soil.
The forces have been skilled in de-escalation, crowd management and standing guidelines for the usage of pressure, the army has mentioned.
However the usage of the active-duty forces nonetheless raises tough questions.
“I imagine that that is an inevitable precursor of issues but to return once you put troops with weapons proper subsequent to civilians who’re doing no matter they do,” mentioned Gary Solis, a former Marine Corps prosecutor and army decide.
He mentioned it’s an instance of Trump’s try to unravel the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars active-duty forces from conducting legislation enforcement.
___
Watson reported from San Diego, and Baldor from Washington. Amy Taxin in Orange County, California, contributed.
© Copyright 2025 Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
