A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles and ordered the troops to return to the state governor's control.
In June, Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops to the California city in the wake of protests over his administration ramping up immigration raids.
US District Judge Charles Breyer stated that the Trump administration had not demonstrated that the protests against immigration warranted federal control of the state's National Guard.
While Judge Breyer's order takes effect on December 15, allowing time for an expected appeal from the administration, he emphasized the necessity of checks and balances in government. The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances, he said. Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one.
This year, Trump has deployed National Guard troops to other cities, including Portland and Washington DC, facing legal challenges in those instances as well. California Governor Gavin Newsom previously sued over the troops’ deployment, leading to a court of appeals siding with the administration initially, stating the presence was justified. However, with protests in Los Angeles dwindling, Newsom filed an additional challenge in November arguing for the troops' removal.
In his ruling, Judge Breyer noted the potential dangers of creating a national police force by utilizing state troops unauthorized by local governance, criticizing the administration's actions as overreaching in circumstances where public unrest was receding.
Through this case and others, the discussion surrounding the deployment of the National Guard amid civil unrest continues to unfold, raising questions about federal powers, state rights, and the future of law enforcement in America.
