Overview of the Ruling
In a significant legal decision, a federal judge has prohibited President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops in California for law enforcement tasks, including making arrests and managing crowd control. This ruling follows a series of immigration raids that led to confrontations between police and protesters in Los Angeles.
Lawsuit Background
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the state of California in early June, challenging the actions of Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the National Guard’s involvement in handling protests against the administration’s immigration enforcement policy.
Judicial Findings
Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco stated that the deployment of troops violated the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that restricts the military from enforcing domestic laws.
This ruling specifically pertains to California and will remain on hold until September 12, allowing the Trump administration time to appeal.
Implications of the Ruling
As Trump contemplates sending National Guard troops to other cities to address crime, including Oakland and San Francisco, Breyer cautioned against forming what he described as “a national police force with the President as its chief.”
“Congress spoke clearly in 1878 when it passed the Posse Comitatus Act, prohibiting the use of the U.S. military to execute domestic law,” Breyer wrote.
Breyer elaborated on the importance of the legislation, stating, “Nearly 140 years later, Defendants — President Trump, Secretary of Defense Hegseth, and the Department of Defense — deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, ostensibly to quell a rebellion and ensure that federal immigration law was enforced.”
Judge’s Analysis
Judge Breyer acknowledged the protests and some instances of violence that occurred in Los Angeles but insisted that there was no rebellion and civilian law enforcement was adequately equipped to handle the situation.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the defendants had “systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles.”
CNBC has reached out to the Justice Department, which represented the Trump administration in the trial, for further comment on the ruling. This is an evolving story, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
