In a dramatic ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer declared President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles during immigration enforcement protests illegal, citing violations of federal law. The decision, issued Tuesday in San Francisco, found that the Trump administration’s federalisation of California’s National Guard violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits military involvement in domestic law enforcement, and exceeded presidential authority under the Tenth Amendment.
The controversy erupted in June 2025, when protests flared in Los Angeles following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented immigrants. The raids, part of Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown aiming for 3,000 arrests daily, sparked clashes in Paramount and Compton, with protesters confronting federal agents using tear gas and flash-bang grenades. On June 7, Trump federalised 2,000 California National Guard troops, later adding 2,000 more and 700 Marines, to “restore order” and protect federal personnel, despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who called the move “inflammatory” and “unconstitutional.”
California’s lawsuit, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta, argued that the deployment was a political stunt to intimidate protesters, not a response to an unmet need. Breyer agreed, noting that Trump failed to follow statutory protocols requiring coordination with Newsom. The judge emphasised that the president’s actions undermined constitutional checks, stating, “We’re talking about a constitutional government, not King George.” While Breyer did not order the immediate withdrawal of the remaining 250 troops, his ruling marks a significant rebuke of Trump’s tactics.
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The Trump administration defended the deployment, claiming the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws, and thus complied with the Posse Comitatus Act. They argued that the president’s authority to mobilise troops superseded state objections, especially amid “violent mobs” attacking ICE agents. However, reports indicate most protests were peaceful, with violence limited to isolated incidents, such as a car burning in Compton and projectiles thrown at officers.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked Breyer’s order in June, allowing federal control of the Guard pending appeal, but the latest ruling solidifies California’s position. Newsom, who called Trump’s actions “deranged” and “dictatorial”, hailed the decision as a victory for state sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump’s team has vowed to appeal, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserting the deployments were “essential to halting illegal immigration.”
The ruling has intensified national debates over immigration, presidential power, and the militarisation of domestic policy. Protests have spread to cities like New York, Chicago, and Seattle, with critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, accusing Trump of pushing authoritarianism. The ACLU and immigrant rights groups have also pledged legal action, arguing the raids and military presence sow fear in communities. As tensions persist, the nation watches closely to see how this legal battle will shape Trump’s immigration agenda.
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