A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard members and Marines to Los Angeles earlier this summer violated the law. In a 52-page decision issued by Judge Charles R. Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco, it was determined that the troops were utilized in a manner contrary to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement without Congressional approval.
Judge Breyer's ruling emphasized that the Trump Administration had engaged in systematic violations by employing armed soldiers for law enforcement tasks such as crowd control and detentions. The judge expressed concern that this approach suggested an attempt to create a national police force under the President's authority.
While the ruling does not mandate the immediate withdrawal of approximately 300 federalized Guard members still stationed in Southern California, it significantly restricts their functions. Effective September 12, the injunction will limit their activities to the protection of federal property, barring them from making arrests or conducting searches unless explicitly authorized by Congress.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had sued to block the deployment, welcomed the decision as a legal victory against what he characterized as the militarization of city streets for political purposes. Trump had ordered the deployment following protests against immigration raids, labeling the demonstrations as a rebellion, despite city officials asserting that the protests were largely peaceful.
The Justice Department, which defended the deployment, has indicated plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that the troops were necessary to protect federal agents. Judge Breyer's decision aligns with broader judicial skepticism regarding the expansion of presidential powers in domestic military matters.