Trump illegally deployed National Guard during Los Angeles protests, judge rules
Iran Press TV
Tuesday, 02 September 2025 6:56 PM
A federal judge in California has ruled that US President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles during immigration protests violated federal law.
US District Judge Charles Breyer, presiding in San Francisco, determined on Tuesday that sending the National Guard to Los Angeles during the protests contravened the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic laws.
The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the state of California, which argued that mobilizing National Guard personnel and Marines to Los Angeles during the summer violated the law prohibiting military enforcement of domestic statutes.
Judge Breyer's ruling criticized the administration, stating that officials "willfully" directed troops to carry out activities barred under their training, including crowd control, traffic management, and establishing military perimeters.
He noted that the administration had provided guidance to federal law enforcement on how to request military assistance and had failed to coordinate adequately with state and local authorities.
"These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew that they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority," Breyer wrote.
He also raised concerns that the administration might attempt similar deployments in other US cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, and New York.
However, the judge did not order the immediate withdrawal of the remaining troops, and his order was paused until Friday, which would provide the Trump administration with an avenue to appeal before it goes into effect.
Approximately 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines were sent to Los Angeles in early June in response to protests and immigration enforcement operations, despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and city officials.
Newsom responded to his state's federal court ruling on social media, declaring in all caps, "DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL."
During the Los Angeles operation, National Guard personnel participated in show-of-force operations at MacArthur Park and accompanied federal immigration officers on raids.
US Army Major General Scott Sherman, who initially commanded the deployment, testified that he had raised legal concerns, citing the Posse Comitatus Act's restrictions, and was told by superiors that constitutional exceptions allowed troops to protect federal personnel and property.
Trump has discussed further National Guard deployments in Chicago, Baltimore and New York. He has already deployed the guard as part of his unprecedented law enforcement takeover in Washington, DC, where the US president has direct legal control.
Meanwhile, activists are staging multiple protests on the US Capitol and outside White House in voicing opposition to Trump as US lawmakers return from summer recess.
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