LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) – Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian on Friday, the U.S. 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 occurred at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles where Marines assumed control of the mission to safeguard the building earlier on Friday, marking a rare domestic utilization of U.S. troops following days of protests related to immigration raids.
Reuters images captured the moment Marines took a civilian into custody, securing his hands with zip ties before transferring him to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security.
When questioned about the occurrence, a spokesperson from the U.S. military’s Northern Command stated that active duty forces are authorized to “temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances.”
“Any temporary detention ceases immediately upon the safe transfer of the individual(s) to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel,” the spokesperson confirmed.
The current deployment of 200 Marines and over 2,000 National Guard members in Los Angeles is focused on safeguarding federal property and personnel. An additional 500 Marines and 2,000 National Guard soldiers will be joining them.
These forces are expected to accompany ICE agents during raids, as per official statements.
Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
The troops have the authority to detain individuals who pose a threat to federal property or personnel, but are required to hand them over to law enforcement for further action. Military personnel are not permitted to make arrests themselves.
The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from participating in civilian law enforcement activities.
Trump could take a more far-reaching step by invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement. (Reporting by Omar Younis, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler)
