This is what the Marines and the National Guard can (and can’t) do during the Los Angeles protests
The U.S. Northern Command oversees military support from non-military authorities in 48 consecutive states, said Friday that the Marines would not conduct “arrests” but were authorized to “hold “people” temporarily “in a specific situation” until police arrived Formal arrest. The clarification follows the appearance of a videotape showing the Marines detaining a civilian in plastic handcuffs in Los Angeles before waiting for police, the first known example of such action taken during the current deployment.
In many other cases, the military can provide assistance to police, including giving them “information” that “under normal circumstances” their duties, unless used by applicable privacy laws prohibit. Military members can also provide various assistance to police, and as long as it is in a “private capacity”, they still get off work. Furthermore, as long as it does not count as providing functional cores for civilian police work, they can provide “expert advice.”
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment; however, a policy staff member in the Secretary of Defense’s office confirmed that it was wired over the phone, a range of policies that deployed federal forces must operate.
There is a major warning about the military’s restrictions. During a “specially urgent” process, military commanders may take limited immediate action to prevent mass destruction or restore critical public services, but only the president’s approval is “impossible” to obtain in advance. Although naturally, military personnel will always maintain order and discipline at all times, under any circumstances, their lives or the lives of others must be immediately at risk.
Nevertheless, the enforcement of these rules in this field is far from a guarantee. Legal experts warn that compliance often differs in a chaotic environment. Trump administration officials have also shown willingness to abide by the law. Last week, according to a letter obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked the Pentagon to authorize military aid for arrests and deployment of drone surveillance.
Noem said in a press conference Thursday that the federal government’s mission is to “liberate” Los Angeles from “socialists” and California Governor Gavin Newsom and La La Caren Bass. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, who represents California citizens, was forcibly removed from a press conference after trying to question Noem. Outside the press conference room, federal agents forced the senator to the ground, where he was temporarily handcuffed.
Unlike the well-trained National Guard that controls domestic populations, active-duty military personnel generally receive relatively little guidance in their guidance to deal with civil unrest. Those who usually belong to military police or specialized security forces. Nevertheless, the Marines have posted videos online showing various task force training for riot tactics and “non-lethal” weapons. However, when Marines fight against foreign mobs, such as civilian areas during the Afghan war, or in rare cases protesters violate the periphery of the U.S. embassy. Rules of participation in wartime are much more lenient than the rules of force that the Marines must comply at home.
In a statement Wednesday, Northern Command confirmed that the Marines have received training on all “mission basic tasks”, including “relegation” and “crowd control.” They will be accompanied by legal and law enforcement experts, according to reports.
Constitutional experts warn that deploying military forces to target civilian protesters, the line between law enforcement and military forces may constitute a dangerous precedent for unchecked presidential authorities. They say the risk will deepen if federal forces are too scrutinized by their legal boundaries.
If crossed the line, it could open a door that might not be easy to close, which for future repression erodes the path of civil liberties that Americans have hit hard.
Updated on June 13, 2025 at 7:40 pm ET: The story has been updated, including details about the first arrest of U.S. Marine Corps protesters in 2025.
