Marines arrive in LA to guard federal building near UCLA

(The Center Square) – About 200 Marines came to Los Angeles Friday to guard the Wilshire Federal Building in the latest development for protests that began one week ago.

The building is located in Westwood, an area that is about 15 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, where protests have taken place over the mass arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The federal building is about 1 mile from the University of California at Los Angeles.

The Marines’ sole mission is to protect federal property and personnel, Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman of the National Guard told reporters Friday.

Sherman added that the National Guard members deployed by President Donald Trump have not participated in law enforcement and are limited to guarding federal property and buildings. The Marines, who started guarding the 17-story building Friday afternoon, relieved the National Guard members who have been guarding the structure since their deployment started. 

The building is where U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was handcuffed Thursday when he approached Homeland Security Kristi Noem at a press conference. Padilla was quickly released and said he was trying to ask her a question.

The building includes offices for the FBI, Veteran Affairs and a federal passport agency.

In downtown Los Angeles, police again closed the on- and off-ramps for a major freeway, Highway 101, and noted several road closures would be in effect as people drive to a Dodgers game. The Los Angeles Police Department asked people to avoid driving through the downtown area.

The fourth night of a dusk-to-dawn downtown curfew will run from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.