U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles made their first detention of a civilian on Friday, the military said, part of a rare domestic use of its forces sent to the city after days of protests over immigration raids.
The Marines joined National Guard forces already deployed to Los Angeles ahead of nationwide demonstrations expected on Saturday in what may be the biggest backlash to President Donald Trump since he returned to power.
About 200 Marines will protect a federal building in Los Angeles, Army Major General Scott Sherman, who is in command of both the National Guard and Marine forces, said on Friday. The administration has authorized a total of 700 Marines to be deployed in the city.
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 H.W. 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 Marines and National Guard deployed in Los Angeles are assigned to protect federal property and personnel and may temporarily detain people, but they are required to turn them over to civilian law enforcement for any formal arrest.
"I would like to emphasize that the soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities," Sherman said during a briefing.
Reuters witnessed Marines detain one person at the Wilshire Federal Building, where the Marines had been posted. A Marine suddenly jumped over some benches and across a garden area to chase after a man, grabbed him and held him down until another Marine assisted him.
Reuters images showed Marines restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security nearly two hours later.
U.S. military confirmed the detention after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active duty troops.
Asked about the incident, the U.S. military's Northern Command spokesperson said active duty forces "may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances."
"Any temporary detention ends immediately when the individual(s) can be safely transferred to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel," the spokesperson said.
The detained man, Marcos Leao, 27, an immigrant and a U.S. Army veteran, said he was told to get on the ground after venturing into a restricted area, as he crossed a line of yellow tape to avoid walking around the building.
Speaking to reporters after he was released, Leao said he was an Army veteran on his way to an office of the Department of Veterans Affairs when he crossed the yellow tape boundary and was asked to stop.
Leao, who said he is Portuguese and Angolan and became a U.S. citizen through the military, said he complied with all commands and that the Marines apparently mistook him for a protester when he simply had business with the Veterans Administration office inside the building.
"They treated me very fairly," Leao said, adding that he was told, "Understand, this is a whole stressful situation for everybody, and we all have a job."
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told a press conference he was unaware of the incident.
"Their ability to detain, as I understand it, is to only detain very briefly in the immediacy, and then federal agents who are working with them would do the detention, arrest, or if appropriate, any other less lethal use of force," McDonnell said.
Trump's use of the National Guard was allowed to continue, at least for now, after a federal appeal on Thursday paused a lower court ruling to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom. The appeals court ruling does not mean it will ultimately side with Trump, as the matter is scheduled for another hearing next week.
"We saved L.A. Thank you for the Decision!!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The Trump administration "far overreached its authority," the California Attorney General's office said, adding that it remained confident in its case ahead of making arguments to court on Tuesday.
Democrats, including Newsom, have said the use of military force was unnecessary and an example of Trump's authoritarianism. Los Angeles and other local officials have also opposed the recent ramp-up of federal immigration enforcement.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said there was a "big difference" between legitimate protesters and "people who are coming out to cause problems, estimating the latter at less than 1% of those present.
Luna spoke at a press conference in which law enforcement welcomed peaceful protests on Saturday but warned they would arrest those who harm others or damage property.
Cities across the U.S. were bracing for demonstrations on Saturday, when those also opposed to a weekend military parade in Washington are expected to take to the streets.
Organizers of the "No Kings" events, formed as a counter to the military parade, expect some 1,800 demonstrations. Police in California said they expected 200 demonstrations in the state and asked demonstrators to march peacefully.
"They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services," the group No Kings, which is organizing the day of action, wrote on its website.
Demonstrations against the immigration raids have also taken place in other cities this week, including New York and Chicago, and there have been some disturbances.
The Los Angeles Police Department said 33 people were arrested downtown overnight for failing to disperse as protests continued in the city for a seventh day, and 13 arrests were made for violating the curfew. More than 200 people were arrested last Sunday and Monday nights, police said.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
68 Comments
Ah_so
The dictatorial take over is nearly complete in only 150 days.
The US Constitution was shown shwn to be just a facade that could be known away by the first authoritarian who was elected to office.
And he will be cheered on by those who like the opportunity to spew hate and who deep down don't value freedom, but who wants to be ruled.
Don't be like them.
bass4funk
Utter nonsense.
JJE
Gavin can stay in his sandbox.
The country wants to move forward with decency to reestablish public decency.
Give legals a chance.
TaiwanIsNotChina
A stain that will forever mar whatever legacy Trump has left.
JJE
Hard to be more divorced from reality.
LA was saved by the Marines in 92. Many people remember them lifting the siege with flowers and hugs, especially small business owners, who don't subscribe to Gavin's warped temple.
Why the curfew for 'peaceful protests'?
djdenki
I live in the L.A. area, and the disparity between the coverage on the national news (across the whole political spectrum) and what it actually looks like here is crazy. Other than maybe a several block radius and parts of the freeway near where protests and law enforcement are gathered, you wouldn't even know anything is happening. Now one can make an argument that law enforcement has contained it, but does it necessitate 500 marines on top of the thousands of national guard members that were already deployed here? I have my doubts.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Big difference when it is at the will of the representatives of Los Angeles.
I dunno, you seem to want to make us think the city has burned down multiple times.
wallace
Troops on the public streets are never a good look and are not expected in democratic countries.
bass4funk
Nope, and neither are mobs, agitators, looters, and rioters.
wallace
bass4funk
Troops on the public streets are never a good look and are not expected in democratic countries.
That is why there are police forces.
bass4funk
And neither are mobs, agitators, looters, and rioters.
But if the local leaders don't do their job and or are overwhelmed, the city President has the absolute duty to contain it and restore and preserve law and order.
wallace
The LA police have said they are capable of dealing with the situation.
The chief of the Los Angeles Police Department has shot down Donald Trump’s claim that he asked the president to send in the National Guard to help control immigration protests in the city.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said police were more than capable of controlling the unrest without federal assistance.
The Marines have no power of arrest and will not be armed.
The president has no "absolute duty" is generally true within the framework of the U.S. Constitution.
Underworld
bass4funk
That is why there are police forces.
That is not the case.
bass4funk
Well, the President disagrees with you.
wallace
bass4funk
That is not the case.
The president is not on the ground in LA, unlike the LAPD Chief. You praised those for voted for Trump.
bass4funk
Now, maybe, but they will be on notice and watched
He works for Bass, he has to say that, he answers to her, not surprised
We know that.
Oh, yes, he does.
The guard or marines would never have been there if it was peaceful. They came because on day 1 we saw on LIVE TV:
Protesters spraying graffiti
Protesters are throwing objects at police
Protesters attacking and assaulting ICE agents
Protesters blocking traffic on an expressway
Protesters are setting things on fire, including cars
Protesters shooting fireworks at occupied cars.... and all this while they were still being called peaceful. That's why they are there. So, they may pull back to a degree, but they are not going anywhere for now.
bass4funk
He doesn't have to be on the ground, nor was JFK when he ordered the NG to escort Black students to an all white school. Come on now...
wallace
Trump's deployment of the National Guard and Marines was an overkill and probably escalated the protests into something worse. The Governor of California did not request the National Guard or the Marines.
The President's unlawful order infringes on Governor Newsom's role as Commander-in-Chief of the California National Guard and violates the state's sovereign right to control and have available its National Guard in the absence of a lawful invocation of federal power.
bass4funk
Not at all, the President wasn't going to even allow what happened in 1994 to happen again. Newsom could have forcefully and aggressively put an end to this, but he didn't. Trump called him and asked him whether he had the situation under control, but he couldn't reach him.
Nothing unlawful, Trump did the absolute right thing, and thank God he is making sure these thugs do not get the upper hand to further plunge the city into more chaos. Also, none of these crazy Dem so-called leaders are talking about the damage their supporters have created by the rioters and looters.
Nathaw
Americans are divided over Trump's decision to activate the military.
When I visited Yangon (capital city of Myanmar) back in 2021, many unarmed protesters were shot and killed by Myanmar army. People protested about military coup for toppling civilian government. Dictator Myanmar military general Min Aung Hliang is still in the power. He is still fat, free and happy.
If many LA protesters will be shot and killed by US Marines or National guards, will there be impeachment for dictatorship from White House? Is there any accountability?
According US constitution, military deployment should be requested by state. Not the decision from head of state.
US under Trump is becoming like fascist and furious Myanmar.
wallace
Cities in North Texas and across the U.S. are preparing for protests this weekend amid growing unrest with the Trump administration's policies, including recent immigration raids.
That includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Frisco, Euless, Flower Mound, Denton, McKinney, and Burleson.
The Governor of Texas puts the National Guard on standby.
Marines in LA have detained the first civilian.
bass4funk
That hasn't happened, but one thing is for sure: ICE will continue its mission, and the thuggish protesters will not stop them from that mission; it's as simple as that. These people get in the way, and they will be dealt with and pay the consequences.
Yes, it is constitutionally legal, but if you have a SANCTUARY CITY that harbors illegals, you will have the military go in if they try to obstruct the agents from doing their job.
Not even close, but I will say, as long as we have sanctuary states and they are defying immigration laws, you will see pushback and justifiably so.
bass4funk
Oh, I know how this will end in Texas, not well in our state if these people think they can go crazy here.
Yup.
Good.
Ah_so
Call the marines!
wallace
The LAPD is dealing with the protests.
Over 350 people have been arrested and detained in L.A. since protests began on Friday, June 6.
The curfew remained in place for a third night on Thursday, June 12. Per Bass' instruction, those who "do not live or work in downtown L.A." were advised to "avoid the area and follow guidance from law enforcement."
https://time.com/7293512/la-curfew-parameters-locations-what-to-know/
Ah_so
Escalation was the intention
bass4funk
They have to.
And the damage to businesses?
Yeah, she knows this admin is watching her every move and good on them.
https://youtu.be/gjhXp6I319A?si=8qTg3nA6kZWHACPa
https://youtu.be/MV8yiofdk4s?si=qtDw_5LDoW2nAqix
JJE
Remember the local reaction to the deployment in 1992:
https://preview.redd.it/rsbmjhgr7ec41.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=0eb15180abdbed76dcd4bcb0fc44d89fb2da729c
TokyoLiving
Let's go Hispanics, keep fighting, don't give up, resist until the end..
The fascism of the MAGA agenda won't last long, the world is watching..
The current territory of what is now the United States has been Hispanic for 500 years, and no Hispanic is illegal on stolen land..
Go Hispanics, the land is yours..
bass4funk
The world can watch, it's the US not Mexico and by the way...
https://www.newsweek.com/more-hispanics-disapprove-los-angeles-protests-poll-2083478
Not stolen, it is a legitimate
No, not really.
1. California was Mexican territory — but barely.
Before the U.S.-Mexico War (1846–1848), California was technically part of Mexico. But in practice, it was sparsely populated, poorly governed, and largely neglected by the central Mexican government. Only about 7,000 Mexicans lived there, compared to tens of thousands of Native Americans and growing numbers of settlers from the U.S. and other countries.
2. The war was tragic — but not theft.
The U.S.-Mexico War was undeniably aggressive, and many Americans — including Ulysses S. Grant — later criticized it. However, wars of conquest were common in the 1800s, and Mexico declared war on the U.S. first, after U.S. troops entered disputed territory (not California itself).
3. Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo willingly.
After the war, both sides signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. In it, Mexico ceded California (and much more) to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million (roughly $500 million today) and forgiveness of Mexican debts. It wasn’t a theft — it was a treaty, signed under pressure, but with full diplomatic process.
4. Many Californios supported U.S. rule.
Spanish-speaking Californios (Mexican settlers in California) were divided, and some welcomed U.S. governance, seeing it as more stable than Mexico’s distant and often dysfunctional leadership. The Gold Rush brought prosperity, and U.S. law protected landowners’ rights — at least in theory.
5. California is now one of the most diverse, immigrant-friendly places on Earth.
California, once a frontier, is now a symbol of multiculturalism. It wasn’t "stolen" in the modern sense — it evolved, through war, negotiation, migration, and development, into the complex, diverse state it is today.
History and knowing it properly are more important than just blathering emotional, opinionated outbursts.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The president is an idiot or an instigator. Take your pick.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Doesn't really make sense to obsess about who is mowing the lawn then, does it?
Bob Fosse
47 has made a mess of this. He was never the sharpest bulb.
bass4funk
Neither.
Seems like the Trump haters are obsessed with the guy, not sure why though...
Then, if that were the case, he would have never made it to the Presidency.
Blacklabel
“Crowds on Demand, a California-based company that specializes in providing on-demand crowds for protests, told Fox News Digital it received "numerous high budget requests" to get involved with the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles and other cities but declined to participate.
A company spokesperson said it declined to get involved in what is happening in Los Angeles because it did "not want to get close to any form of illegal activity, including violence, vandalism or blocking off roads without a permit."
lincolnman
More MAGA theater...tune in to Fox news for the latest protest porn...
Trump throwing up all this distraction and deflection is just giving us more evidence that he is in the Epstein files...
Blacklabel
Let me repeat for you:
“…numerous high budget requests" to get involved with the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles and other cities but declined to participate.”
high budget requests. Who offered to pay for rioters? Which company or group took the offer when this company declined?
Peppermint
Definitely both.
JJE
2/7 Marine btl have been well trained, good morale and are loyal.
Amazing that it would even be in question in their homeland.
bass4funk
The other way around, you can’t let the mob rule, it just won’t happen under this President, these thugs will lose all day.
Doubt it.
They won’t and as long as the make Trump their focus they will continue to make themselves irrelevant as a party
No, no it wouldn’t because people are finally waking up to the left hyper-partisan BS politics
wallace
Why did Trump put the Marines in harm's way? Unarmed and no powers.
Peppermint
Right. They are both very bad looks.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Ya don't say? It's almost like their number is publicly available and any hooligan or MAGA can and make such a request.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The goal is the Insurrection Act. Unlocks the Trump third term and MAGAs will nodding gleefully all the way.
Blacklabel
aren’t these peaceful protests?
just “a bunch of teens throwing rocks?”
just “people gathering to enjoy watching cars burn”?
a US Marine is never “unarmed”- they are the weapon.
HopeSpringsEternal
People unfamiliar with the US military probably don't understand that each service, including the Marines, has their own military police. Pretty safe bet these are Marines with a military police background.
Protection of Federal Property and ICE operations to detain illegal alien criminals and recover missing trafficked illegal alien children, estimated at nearly 500K children = both suitable Marine Corp. missions in LA etc.
LA has a big illegal alien problem, because Politicians and Businesses for decades have encouraged illegals to exploit for $profits and political $support/power by not intentionally enforcing immigration laws = sanctuary
Trump has Federal Supremacy, can legally enforce immigration laws within LA, hence huge 'blowback"
HopeSpringsEternal
Important to note, Trump has huge and growing political support from across entire country to deport illegal aliens, especially criminals, and why he was elected.
Americans correctly outraged at the lawless immigration system in CA, that's fueled illegal immigration. Americans want legal vetted immigrants for their safety, the prevent exploitation of immigrants and to promote law and order
TaiwanIsNotChina
Ask TrumpGPT when the last time the US military was deployed on US soil without the consent of a governor.
HopeSpringsEternal
Federal Agencies and Departments coordinate all the time. Clearly, given serious unrest in LA, perfectly appropriate for US Marine Corp. to assist ICE officials in conducting their operations in safest possible manner
Federal Immigration Legal Supremacy required in LA & CA, because unlike most other states, policymakers there have intentionally encouraged lawless illegal immigration for their $benefit and power
Blacklabel
Next?
Blacklabel
oddly, that hasn’t been announced, has it?
I just want your team to get out of the street, accept the election results, stop their violence against law enforcement and respect our immigration laws.
that’s not too much to ask.
bass4funk
They are capable of taking care of themselves
Then the thugs should pull back, and then the marines will as well.
okinawarides
"If many LA protesters will be shot and killed by US Marines or National guards, will there be impeachment for dictatorship from White House? Is there any accountability?
*US under Trump is becoming like fascist and furious Myanmar**."*
Just when people thought the hyperbole couldn't get any more ridiculous comes this.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Oh you mean Trump didn't spell out how he was going to become a dictator?
That's all we wanted on Jan. 6th, too. And people have a right to be on the street.
You'll be typing away gleefully when the IA comes.
Blacklabel
appeals court overruled you as fast as Newsom could prematurely celebrate and pin that activist judge Breyer’s incorrect decision to his X account.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Under martial law, yes. You were supposed to be above this kind of behavior.
TaiwanIsNotChina
There are several traitors to the republic appointed by Trump at top levels in the judiciary.
Peppermint
Who is the city President in this particular case?
LOL! ! :-D
lincolnman
Trump has been caught in two "huuuge" lies...even by his standards...
1) "California Gov. Gavin Newsom dialed up his criticism of Donald Trump on Thursday as he slammed the president’s claims that they spoke over the phone about deploying the National Guard to respond to protests in Los Angeles. “He has quite literally made up components of that conversation. He’s been a stone cold liar about what he said we talked about. He never discussed the National Guard. Period, full stop,” Newsom said.
2) "The chief of the Los Angeles Police Department has shot down Donald Trump’s claim that he asked the president to send in the National Guard to help control immigration protests in the city. Speaking to CNN, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the department was “not in a position” to make such a request and that they were “nowhere near” the stage where such action would be necessary."
So either Trump lied or his dementia is so severe he "imagined" he had a conversation...
Either one should result in his immediate impeachment...
okinawarides
aren’t these peaceful protests?
just “a bunch of teens throwing rocks?”
Apparently so, what's wrong with destroying cop cars and throwing Molotov cocktails at law enforcement ? Those rioters just need some tender love. The Voice chicks said so.
JJE
If in harms way means confronting an insurgency.
That battalion has done precisely that before for several decades.
No legal individual has to fear - illegal combatants only.
chotto_2
bass4funkToday 06:52 am JST
Bass, you're finally condeming Jan 6?
JJE
Hang on - there is some confusion.
The marines can be deployed overseas but not stateside.
Certain quarters adore the former but not the latter.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
JJE
Another oddity is the mil/neo-liberals demand rights they profess to force on others through punitive measures - but absolutely can't stand the thought of their own military on their streets.
The horror of reality always trumps misguided idealism. And what hypocrites too.
HopeSpringsEternal
Many may recall George Bush Sr. declared Martial Law in LA in 1992 and deploying the US military to quell the riots. Current situation, not so different, only the trigger this time is ICE legally enforcing US immigration laws.
Easy to understand desire for LA and CA writ large to continue their non-enforcement of immigration laws, as it's very profitable to exploit illegal alien immigrants.
But most US citizens do not want 'sanctuaries' like LA, because illegal alien criminals receive a 'safe harbor' and their drugs and crimes badly damage citizens in all states
bass4funk
Wrong.
https://x.com/rodgwhite12492/status/1932583419713581212
Gotcha, Gavin!
https://x.com/NoFrankingWay/status/1931916263493648391
Wrong again
Strike 2!
Or the liberal media is doing what it has been trying to do, be more of a liberal advocacy group rather than a professional journalistic organization
Newsom and Bass.
HopeSpringsEternal
US moving rapidly towards Trump on Immigration, desire for legal vetting, not illegal unvetted immigrants, who are far more likely to commit crimes than legal immigrants. Thus, Trump has the political capital for ICE enforcement
Fountain
However the MAGAts here try to dress this up as widespread chaos, requiring military intervention, those of us not blinded by devotion to Trump have watched the news reports and read quotes from those on the ground and the city leaders.
This is complete overkill by a president attempting to intimidate ordinary citizens.
“The military is a tool that should be used as a last resort, not a first response….”
LAPD could easily handle the situation and they have said this.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/los-angeles-national-guard-troops-marines-morale