Trump's deployment of the National Guard during L.A.'s immigration protests has been declared unlawful by the judge.
In a landmark ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has determined that the Trump administration violated federal law by deploying National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area in early June. The decision comes in response to protests over immigration raids and marks a significant milestone in the ongoing debate over the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement.
The ruling, which applies only to California, states that the administration's actions were in contravention of the Posse Comitatus Act, a 1878 law that prohibits the use of the military for enforcing domestic laws. Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, who initially commanded the troops, testified that he raised concerns about the deployment potentially violating the Act.
The Trump administration, however, has indicated its intention to appeal the ruling. The White House has not yet provided a timeline for sending National Guard troops to Chicago, a city President Trump has suggested deploying troops to combat crime and unrest.
The deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles was the first time in decades without a request from the state's governor. Roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were initially deployed, with only 300 soldiers remaining. Troops were used for tasks such as setting up protective perimeters, traffic blockades, crowd control, and demonstrating a military presence in and around Los Angeles.
Ret. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Maurer, an associate professor at Ohio Northern University College of Law, described the Trump administration's use of the National Guard as "the most aggressive use of the military domestically when the facts to support them are extremely weak."
The ruling did not require the 300 remaining soldiers to leave, but ordered the administration to stop using them "to execute the laws." Law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to control the crowd during the protests. Thousands of protesters responded, causing disruptions and setting self-driving cars on fire.
Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have expressed opposition to the potential plan and are planning to sue if it moves forward. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California stated that the court ruling upheld democracy. California sued the administration, claiming the deployment of troops violates the Posse Comitatus Act.
The administration refused to "meaningfully coordinate with state and local officials," further fuelling the controversy surrounding the deployment of troops for domestic law enforcement. The ruling serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security and civil liberties, a debate that continues to resonate in the political landscape.
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