Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian on Friday, the U.S. military confirmed after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active-duty troops deployed there by Donald Trump.
The incident took place at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles where Marines took charge of the mission to protect the building earlier on Friday, in a rare domestic use of U.S. troops after days of protests over immigration raids.
Reuters images showed Marines apprehending the man, restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the Department of Homeland Security.
Leao, who gained his U.S. citizenship through military service, said he was treated “very fairly.”
“They’re just doing their job,” said Leao, who is of Angolan and Portuguese descent.
So not just a civilian, but a US military veteran who earned his citizenship via service to the country. I’d argue if they want to try and make different levels, since that’s clearly what they’re trying to do, that he’s more an American citizen than anyone that happened to be born here, especially more than any of the current Administration.
Also, how much you want to bet they’re checking every piece of paper in his immigration file to see if a signature or date was missed. Serving earns you citizenship, but it is not automatic. You still have to fill out the paperwork, and that leaves open the possibility of errors. We already have stories of people who have been deported because they don’t care about fixing paperwork errors caused by Immigration staff if it gives them an excuse to get rid of someone.