In a dramatic and historic moment, U.S. Marines have made their first-ever civilian detention on American soil in Los Angeles — zip-tying an Army veteran outside a federal building. The rare event is now causing national uproar and raising major legal questions about the military’s role in civilian law enforcement.
What Happened in Los Angeles?
Over the weekend, the streets near Wilshire Federal Building in LA turned tense as active-duty U.S. Marines detained 27-year-old Marcos Leao, a U.S. Army veteran, during an anti-ICE protest. According to eyewitnesses and official statements, Leao was zip-tied and held for more than two hours after allegedly stepping into a restricted zone near the federal property.
Leao, who says he didn’t hear warnings because he had headphones on, was later released without any charges after being handed over to Homeland Security officers. Despite the scare, Leao praised the Marines, saying he was “treated very fairly”.
Why This Moment Is So Unprecedented
This is believed to be the first time in recent history that active-duty Marines have physically detained a U.S. civilian on home soil during a non-combat situation. While the Marines were deployed to protect federal property amid rising protests, their authority to detain civilians is extremely limited under federal law — particularly the Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents military from acting as domestic law enforcement.
Legal & Political Fallout
The incident has immediately triggered nationwide debate and legal challenges. Civil rights groups and constitutional law experts are warning that this might be a step toward military overreach in civilian matters. Critics are asking: “Are we moving toward martial law?”
To make things more complex, this happened while thousands of National Guard troops and federal forces were also active in Los Angeles due to increasing protests tied to immigration enforcement and federal ICE actions.
Even state leaders are involved — California Governor Gavin Newsom recently challenged President Trump’s decision to deploy federal forces. A federal court briefly blocked Trump’s control over the National Guard, but the decision was put on hold, allowing the deployment to continue for now.
Public Reactions and Expert Concerns
The image of uniformed Marines zip-tying an American veteran sent shockwaves across social media and news outlets. Videos quickly went viral, drawing both support and outrage. Some people are applauding the military’s restraint, while others fear this sets a dangerous precedent.
Experts say this might blur the line between military and police, especially if the Insurrection Act is expanded or used again in future protests. Military officials have since clarified that the Marines are only allowed to detain civilians briefly if someone threatens federal buildings, and must immediately turn them over to civil authorities.
What Comes Next?
-
More protests are expected in LA and across the country, especially during the planned “No Kings” march next weekend.
-
Civil liberties organizations are preparing lawsuits to challenge federal troop authority in civilian zones.
-
Legal scholars believe this incident could reach the Supreme Court, especially if more civilian detentions happen under military watch.
