Judge to issue order ‘very soon’ on California’s challenge to Trump’s deployment of troops to LA
A federal judge is expected to make a decision soon regarding whether the Trump administration can deploy National Guardsmen and Marines to the Los Angeles area to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have filed an emergency request to block what they perceive as an “unnecessary” and “unlawful militarization” by President Donald Trump and the Department of Defense.
During a federal hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer expressed the urgency of the issues at hand and stated that he intends to act swiftly. The request made by Newsom and Bonta seeks to limit the deployment of federalized National Guard and active duty Marines to only protecting federal buildings and property.
President Trump invoked Section 12406 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code on Armed Services to send thousands of National Guardsmen to Los Angeles, citing the need to respond to a “rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” However, California argues that there is no such rebellion in Los Angeles and that the deployment of troops in response to civil unrest is an overreach of federal executive power.
The main point of contention during the hearing was whether the president complied with the Title 10 statute in federalizing the National Guard. The federal government asserts that the president did comply and that the statute is not subject to judicial review. On the other hand, California’s position is that the National Guard was not lawfully federalized, and Trump failed to meet the legal requirements for such a deployment.
Breyer declined California’s request for an immediate temporary restraining order and scheduled a hearing for Thursday afternoon in San Francisco to allow the Trump administration to respond. The Department of Justice lawyers argued against limiting the military’s role to protecting federal buildings, stating that it would hinder the enforcement of federal law and infringe on the president’s military directives.
The deployment of 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines in response to immigration raids and protests in Los Angeles has sparked controversy, with California leaders accusing Trump of unnecessarily escalating the situation. Protests have since spread to other cities, prompting Trump to defend his decision by stating that he prioritizes safety and law enforcement.
As the legal battle continues, the outcome of the judge’s decision will have significant implications for the balance of power between federal and state authorities in matters of national security and law enforcement.
