Exclusive: DHS secretary seeks military arrests in Los Angeles in leaked letter

[douglas9]

One day before the Trump administration deployed U.S. Marines to confront protesters in Los Angeles, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to direct the military to detain or arrest “lawbreakers,” a move one expert called “a grave escalation.”

A letter sent Sunday from Noem to Hegseth, obtained by the Chronicle, requested that the Pentagon give “Direction to DoD forces to either detain, just as they would at any federal facility guarded by military, lawbreakers under Title 18 until they can be arrested and processed by federal law enforcement, or arrest them.”

The military is generally barred under federal laws from taking part in domestic law enforcement. Noem’s request may be a step toward the administration sidestepping those laws by invoking the Insurrection Act, two legal experts said in interviews.

Noem also asked Hegseth for “drone surveillance support” as well as weapons and logistics assistance in Los Angeles. By Monday, the Defense Department had deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles, where they were to join more than 2,000 federalized California National Guard troops in quelling raucous immigration protests.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, called Noem’s request ominous and out of proportion in a country where “intense protests have happened throughout history.”

https://www.sfchronicle.com/us-world/article/noem-immigration-protests-letter-20369001.php

[DemMedic]

1. In defiance of Posse Comitatus

The Posse Comitatus Act (PCA), enacted in 1878, generally prohibits the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement purposes. It aims to prevent the military from being used to enforce laws unless explicitly authorized by Congress or the Constitution. The Act primarily applies to the Army and Air Force, with other military branches governed by separate legislation.

[UpInArms]

2. Updated in 2021 to add Marines

The Act originally applied only to the United States Army, but a subsequent amendment in 1956 expanded its scope to the United States Air Force. In 2021, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 further expanded the scope of the Act to cover the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The Act does not prevent the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard under state authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within its home state or in an adjacent state if invited by that state's governor. The United States Coast Guard (under the Department of Homeland Security) is not covered by the Act either, primarily because although it is an armed service, it also has a maritime law enforcement mission.

[WinstonSmith4740]

13. Considering Noem had no idea what "habeas corpus" is

I really don't have a lot of faith in her knowing that posse comitus even exists

[OldBaldy1701E]

3. So, what are we going to do about it? n/t)

[usedtobedemgurl]

4. Every marine should be detained or arrested.

Along with anyone who makes illegal orders.

[RVN VET71]

5. Detained or arrested? I'm missing something here so forgive me for asking on what grounds?

Their being there? Does their very being in L.A. under orders from the fascist president constitute a violation of Posse Comitatus? If it does that would mean that the entire Corps, up to and including the Commandant stand guilty of violating the law. (Which, personally, I think would be cool. As violators of the law they should be summoned before the courts to defend themselves. Fun times that would be!)

Or have the Marines already been engaged in "protecting" the streets from the protesters? If that is the case, they should be arrested and detained immediately! But who would do the arresting? Other Marines?

[usedtobedemgurl]

8. I did not ssy it was probable or possible.

If you violate the law, whether a dog killer or the marines, or anyone else, there should be consequences.

[quakerboy]

6. im curious

Why the lapd is not assigned to protect the protestors.

Its pretty simple and could be very healing. Send them with orders to face away from the protestors, not towards them. To deflect attacks from the protestors not aim aggression towards them.

[Torchlight]

7. Lawbreakers being defined as "you don't look or act American enough to me"

by the same cabal who produces and ships Manufactured Divisions and the very sleek and successful But What About line of creative dishonesties.

[MayReasonRule]

9. A Direct Attack On States' Rights

[NotHardly]

11. They love to change the narrative... and then lie some more.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

15. But it's hunky-dory to do this when TSF is in charge.

Cosplay Barbie is just another ignorant, hypocritical POS. No wonder TACO likes her.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. I'm not seeing a legally valid exception to the Posse Comitatus Act. Anyone else? Anyone? Anyone?

Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shipwack]

14. Bueller...? Bueller...? nt

[johnnyfins]

12. They are using the word "rebellion"

in describing the protests. They think that by calling it a rebellion, it is one. Typical TSF thinking he can manifest anything by wishing.