Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian on Friday, marking 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 were assigned to protect the building amidst protests over immigration raids. The US military's Northern Command spokesperson confirmed the detention, stating that active duty forces may temporarily detain individuals in specific circumstances.

Reuters images captured the moment when Marines apprehended the man, restrained him with zip ties, and then handed him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security. The civilian, identified as Marcos Leao, 27, and an Army veteran, mentioned that he was treated fairly and understood that the Marines were just doing their job. Leao, who holds US citizenship through military service, expressed his understanding of the situation.

The deployment of 200 Marines and over 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles aims to protect federal property and personnel. An additional 500 Marines and 2,000 National Guard soldiers are expected to join them. While these troops are authorized to detain individuals posing a threat to federal property or personnel, they are not permitted to carry out arrests themselves, as per the Posse Comitatus Act.

President Trump could potentially invoke the Insurrection Act to allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement. This deployment of military forces in Los Angeles is a rare domestic use of its forces, with the last similar instance occurring in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots. The recent detention of a civilian marks a significant development amidst ongoing protests and demonstrations.