Trump Must End National Guard Deployment In Los Angeles, Says California Judge

The judge said there was no evidence supporting the administration’s claim that the protests were a rebellion against the government which had legally justified sending in troops. (Image: Reuters)

A California judge on Wednesday ordered withdrawal of President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and directed them to return to the control of the state’s Democratic governor.

According to Reuters, District Judge Charles Breyer found Trump overstepped his authority by taking control of California National Guard units and sending them to Los Angeles and elsewhere in response to protests against federal immigration authorities.

He said there was no evidence supporting the administration’s claim that the protests were a rebellion against the government, which had legally justified sending in troops.

Rejecting the administration’s claim that courts have no power to review the President’s decision on state National Guard units during an emergency, Breyer said: “The founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances. Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one.”

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had asked the court to block the August order of the administration taking federal control of 300 California National Guard troops through February 2, 2026.

Usually, National Guard units are controlled by states. However, they can be used for federal service under certain circumstances.

Following the ruling, Reuters quoted White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson saying in a statement that Trump has lawful authority to deploy troops in response to “violent riots” and that the administration would ultimately prevail on the issue.

In a previous statement, Trump said troop deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Memphis and Portland, Oregon were necessary to fight crime and protect federal property and personnel from protesters.

The leaders in these cities have repeatedly called the deployments unnecessary.

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google.