Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Military Deployment in Los Angeles

A federal judge has ruled against President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer determined that the administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits using military forces to enforce domestic laws. The deployment had been initiated in June amid immigration-related protests in the region.

California Governor Gavin Newsom challenged the federal action in court, arguing that the military presence escalated tensions rather than resolving them. The judge's ruling granted an injunction to Newsom and the state of California, effectively halting the continued military deployment. Judge Breyer noted that while protests and some violence occurred in Los Angeles, there was no rebellion that would justify military intervention.

In his ruling, Judge Breyer highlighted that approximately 300 National Guard members remained stationed in Los Angeles at the time of the decision. The judge expressed concern about statements from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicating intentions to deploy troops to additional California cities including San Francisco and Oakland, which the court characterized as potentially creating a national police force under presidential control.

The situation in Los Angeles differs from similar deployments in Washington, D.C., where National Guard troops have also been stationed. The distinction stems from Washington's unique status under federal oversight, which creates different legal parameters for military deployment in the nation's capital compared to state jurisdictions like California. Republican governors from several states have also sent National Guard units to Washington, D.C.