Judge Blocks Trump’s Illegal Deployment of California National Guard

A federal judge has ruled that President Trump’s deployment of California’s National Guard troops to Los Angeles without Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent was illegal, ordering the immediate return of control to the governor. The judge, Charles Breyer, stated that the president exceeded his statutory authority and violated the Tenth Amendment, emphasizing that the protests in Los Angeles did not amount to a “rebellion” justifying federal takeover of the Guard.

The Trump administration had deployed about 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during raids amid protests sparked by immigration enforcement actions. The administration argued it was necessary to restore order and protect federal personnel, but local officials insisted the situation was under control and opposed the federalization of the Guard.

Judge Breyer highlighted constitutional limits on presidential power over the National Guard, contrasting it with the authority of state governors and rejecting claims of unchecked presidential command. The ruling was temporarily stayed to allow the Trump administration to appeal, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has paused the order while considering the case, scheduling a hearing for Tuesday.

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Governor Newsom condemned the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory,” and dozens of local mayors demanded the removal of troops, warning that military involvement could escalate tensions. The legal battle underscores the tension between federal and state authority over National Guard forces and the limits of presidential power in domestic deployments.