Rep. Cisneros and Vice Chair Lieu Bash Marine Detention, Demand Answers

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-31) and House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted W. Lieu (CA- 36) led 34 House Democrats to condemn the reports that U.S. Marines detained a U.S. citizen and veteran last Saturday.

"As Members of Congress, we take an oath to defend the Constitution - the same oath that you and every service member has taken…" the letter reads."The use of our military service members in this situation, who have sacrificed so much to defend our country, is sickening and disrespectful. The Constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly are hallmarks of our democracy. We must be united in protecting these rights."

"This Saturday, an Army veteran and U.S. citizen was detained by the U.S. Marines which is in direct violation of the Posse Comitatus Act," said Rep. Cisneros"The Trump Administration is using our military service members as political pawns to create a false narrative of uncontrolled violence, trample on legal precedent, and perpetuate fear and hate in our communities. I am disturbed by the flagrant misuse of our nation's troops and I am demanding answers."

"Using Marines for law enforcement activities in the United States underscores the disturbing escalation in Trump's efforts to politicize the military," said Vice Chair Lieu"As a former JAG prosecutor, I am intimately familiar with the laws that the U.S. Military is bound by. The stories detailing that Marines temporarily detained a U.S. citizen in Los Angeles would represent a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. No member of the U.S. military is allowed to take part in civilian law enforcement (absent invocation of the Insurrection Act), no matter what Trump claims. This disturbing incident shows just how inappropriate it is that Trump has deployed troops on American soil against Americans."

The letter was signed by Reps. Barragán, Bera, Carbajal, Chu, Escobar, Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Gonzalez, Goodlander, Hernández, Hoyle, Huffman, Jacobs, Jayapal, Leger Fernandez, Levin, Liccardo, Lofgren, Min, Holmes Norton, Ruiz, Sherman, Simon, Sorensen, Torres, Tran, Vargas, Vasquez, Velázquez, Whitesides, and Williams.

Read the full letter here.

It's important that members of the community know their rightsif approached by ICE agents or the police, regardless of their immigration status.

Rep. Cisneros is a Navy Veteran and the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. He currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, and Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Rep. Cisneros is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and serves on its leadership team as the Freshman Representative.

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