On Friday, US Marines stationed in Los Angeles detained a civilian, marking the first confirmed incident of such a detention by active-duty troops deployed under President Donald Trump’s orders. The Marines took control of the Wilshire federal building earlier that day, a rare case of domestic troop deployment following recent protests over immigration enforcement.
Photographs from Reuters captured the moment as Marines restrained the individual’s hands with zip ties before transferring him to officials from the Department of Homeland Security. A spokesperson for the US military’s northern command stated that active-duty forces are authorized to “temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances,” emphasizing that any such detention is short-lived until the person can be safely handed over to local law enforcement.
Approximately 200 Marines arrived in Los Angeles on Friday morning, following Trump’s controversial decision to deploy National Guard troops in the city the previous weekend, against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. According to US Army Maj Gen Scott Sherman, who oversees the Marine and National Guard task force, the Marines are tasked with protecting the federal building.
As the seventh day of protests passed, the streets remained largely peaceful leading into Friday morning, coinciding with a third night of a curfew in part of downtown Los Angeles.
The detainee, identified as Marcos Leao, 27, shared his experience with reporters after his release. An Army veteran on his way to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Leao said he inadvertently crossed into a restricted area when he was stopped. He expressed that he was treated “very fairly” and remarked, “They’re just doing their job.” Leao, who obtained his US citizenship through military service, has Angolan and Portuguese heritage.
Demonstrations have also erupted across cities such as New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Austin, in response to Trump’s aggressive immigration policies targeting undocumented communities. Organizers anticipate that around 2,000 protest sites across the country will participate in the “No Kings” demonstration on Saturday, which critics view as a condemnation of the President’s potential authoritarian actions.
The coordinated protests coincide with Trump’s military parade in Washington DC, intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army and, coincidentally, his 79th birthday. Critics assert that the parade reflects more on Trump’s personal image than on genuine national unity. The mobilization of California’s National Guard by Trump, against Newsom’s strong objections, has led to legal challenges, with a federal judge ruling late Thursday to block the troop deployment. However, the administration quickly appealed, and a higher court temporarily paused the ruling until it can be reviewed on Tuesday.
Judge Charles Breyer, in the case of Newsom v Trump, stated that the President had unlawfully circumvented established congressional procedures. During an interview with the New York Times podcast, Newsom labeled Trump a “stone cold liar” regarding claims of prior discussion about federal deployment.
Democratic officials and advocacy groups have criticized Trump’s actions as overreach and a strategy to undermine free speech while bolstering hardline immigration measures. The President has justified troop deployment by asserting that Los Angeles would have faced severe unrest without this intervention, though he provided no evidence to substantiate his claims.
On the national stage, the parade is promoted as a patriotic celebration. In an effort to divert attention away from the military spectacle, protesters are intentionally not planning events in Washington. The No Kings movement asserted in a statement: “The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us.”
The parade finale will feature 6,600 troops and several military vehicles, supported by a broadcast from an astronaut in space. Initially inspired by a Bastille Day celebration Trump attended in France in 2017, the event is estimated to cost around $45 million and draws parallels with military displays typical of authoritarian regimes.
Some National Guard members deployed in Los Angeles have voiced unease with their role, questioning the appropriateness of military force in community settings. Sarah Streyder from the Secure Families Initiative noted, “The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for.” Chris Purdy from the Chamberlain Network echoed this, stating, “Morale is not great, is the quote I keep hearing.”
As the legal and political fallout unfolds, arrests persist, although incidents of looting have diminished. In a related event, 30-year-old Jose Manuel Mojica faces charges for assaulting a federal officer during a protest in Paramount, a suburb of Los Angeles.
On Thursday, Alex Padilla, a California Democratic senator and critic of the Trump administration, was forcibly removed from a press conference involving Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Video of his removal has gone viral, revealing him being restrained by Secret Service and FBI personnel. Padilla warned that his treatment foreshadows troubling implications for ordinary citizens subjected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions.
While most Republican lawmakers condemned Padilla’s actions, a few Republican senators criticized his treatment. Conversely, Democrats largely supported Padilla’s defiance against the administration, expressing outrage over his removal.
Reporting contributed by Andrew Gumbel from Los Angeles.