Marines Hold Veterans Civilians In Los Angeles

US / PHOTO Marines via Instagram @usmarinecorps

JAKARTA - US Marines who were deployed to Los Angeles, United States (US), made their first arrest of a civilian on Friday.

The deployment of Marines was part of a rare use of military force to support domestic police and was carried out ahead of national protests at President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington.

The detention of a man, a veteran of the US Army and an immigrant who acquired US citizenship, marks a very unusual series of events of interest to Trump's supporters.

But this angered other Americans who showed dissatisfaction on the street.

Trump ordered the Marines to Los Angeles in response to street protests over the immigration raids, joining National Guard troops who had been deployed to the city despite the California governor's objections.

Trump said troops were needed to defuse the protests - the opposition denied by state and local officials.

About 1,800 protests are scheduled across the US on Saturday, June 14, to oppose the Washington military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army and to coincide with Trump's 79th birthday.

Both military parades and the use of active duty forces in the country are not common to the United States, as is the military detention of US citizens on American soil.

It was also unusual when federal agents forcibly transferred and handcuffed a US Senator on Thursday when he interrupted a press conference by the Minister of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Trump has grown rapidly politically with unconventional tactics.

But opponents from the Democratic Party began to fight back. Fifteen protests are expected to take place in Los Angeles alone, said Mayor Karen Bass, urging the public to remain peaceful.

"We are here today because the raids (immigration) have caused fear and panic," Bass said.

"Can the federal government enter and seize power from the state and from local jurisdictions? How much will the American people survive?" he continued.

About 200 Marines were tasked with protecting the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, part of a battalion consisting of 700 Marines sent to support the National Guard, said Army Major General Scott Sherman, who led the National Guard and Marine Troops.

Marines and the National Guard stationed in Los Angeles are tasked with protecting property and federal personnel and can detain people for a while, but they are required to hand them over to civil law enforcers for any official arrests.