Los Angeles/Washington, June 13 (Reuters) – Marines deployed in Los Angeles temporarily arrested a civilian on Friday, the United States army confirmed after receiving images from Reuters, in the first known arrest of active troops deployed there by President Donald Trump.

The incident took place in the Federal Building of Wilshire in Los Angeles, where the Marines took care of the mission to protect the early building on Friday, in a rare domestic use of US troops after days of protests for immigration raids.

Reuters’ images showed the Marines apprehending a civilian, restricting their hands with zip line and then giving it to civilians from the Department of National Security.

American Marines stop a person outside the Federal Wilshire building after the Marines were deployed in Los Angeles, since protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in Los Angeles, California, USA. UU., On June 13, 2025.
American Marines stop a person outside the Federal Wilshire building after the Marines were deployed in Los Angeles, since protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in Los Angeles, California, USA. UU., On June 13, 2025.

Aude Guerrucci / Reuters

When asked about the incident, the North Command of the North of the US Army said that active duty forces “can temporarily stop an individual in specific circumstances.”

“Any temporary detention ends immediately when individuals can be safely transferred to the custody of the appropriate civil law personnel,” said a spokesman.

The 200 Marines and more than 2,000 National Guard now deployed in Los Angeles have the task of protecting federal property and federal staff. 500 additional marines and 2,000 more soldiers of the National Guard will be joined.

This means that they will accompany the ice agents in the raids, authorities said.

US Marine
The American Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marines Division walk to their assignment in the Federal building of Wilshire, before the national protest “No Kings Day” on Saturday, in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Photo of Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle through Getty Images

The troops are authorized to detain people who represent a threat to federal staff or property, but only until the police can arrest them. Military officers cannot carry out arrests themselves.

The POSSE Comitatus Law generally prohibits the United States Army, including the National Guard, participating in the application of civil law.

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Trump could take a longer passing step by invoking the insurrection law, which would allow troops to participate directly in the application of civil law. (Omar Young’s report, Phil Stewart, Idrese Ali; Edition of Leslie Adler and Sandra Maller)