Marines in LA: A New Twist in Civilian Detention

The scene in Los Angeles took an unexpected turn when US marines, deployed by Donald Trump, temporarily detained a civilian. This marked the first known instance of active-duty troops detaining a civilian in the city. The marines had taken control of the Wilshire federal building, a move that raised eyebrows due to its rarity in domestic settings. Photos captured the moment marines apprehended the civilian, restrained him with zip ties, and handed him over to the Department of Homeland Security. The military's northern command confirmed that active-duty forces can temporarily detain individuals under specific circumstances. This detention ends as soon as the individual can be safely transferred to civilian law enforcement. About 200 marines arrived in LA on a Friday morning, following Trump's decision to deploy national guard troops. This move was made despite the objections of California's governor, Gavin Newsom. The marines were tasked with protecting a federal building, a responsibility led by US Army Maj Gen Scott Sherman. The streets of LA had been relatively calm, marking the seventh day of protests and the third day of an overnight curfew in a small part of downtown. The detained civilian, Marcos Leao, spoke to reporters after his release. Leao, a 27-year-old army veteran, was on his way to the Department of Veterans Affairs when he was detained. He had gained US citizenship through his military service and described his treatment as fair. Leao, of Angolan and Portuguese descent, stated that the marines were just doing their job. Protests against Trump's mass deportation agenda have been taking place in cities like New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Austin. Millions more are expected to protest on a Saturday at roughly 2, 000 sites nationwide. This demonstration, dubbed "No Kings, " aims to challenge what critics see as Trump's authoritarian actions. The protests coincide with Trump's controversial military parade in Washington DC, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US army's formation and his 79th birthday. The deployment of troops in LA sparked a legal battle between Trump and Newsom, a move not seen in the US in at least half a century. A federal judge initially ruled to block the deployment, but the administration appealed, and a higher court paused the restraining order until Tuesday. Newsom had called Trump a "stone cold liar" for claiming he had discussed the deployment with the governor. Democrats and advocacy groups view the deployment as an abuse of power aimed at suppressing free speech and supporting aggressive anti-immigration policies. Some members of the national guard and their families have expressed discomfort with their mission in LA. They feel dragged into a politically charged domestic power struggle. The sentiment among troops is that deploying military force against their own communities is not the kind of national security they signed up for. Families are concerned not just for their loved ones' safety but also for what their service is being used to justify.