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Judge blocks Trump Nat'l Guard deployment in LA
A federal judge is blocking the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard troops to Los Angeles. With the judge's ruling, California Governor Gavin Newsom regains control of what to do with the federal troops.
LOS ANGELES - A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and ordered them to be returned to the control of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
What we know:
The order, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, is a blow to the Trump administration. It comes after the president in June deployed thousands of federalized National Guard troops to the city in response to a wave of immigration protests.
Breyer had issued a temporary restraining order earlier this year seeking to block Trump's National Guard deployment from immediately taking effect, though the order was quickly stayed by the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
The ruling will not take effect until Monday, providing time for the federal government to appeal, which the Trump administration has already signaled is likely.
"President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like Newscum refused to stop. We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement Wednesday.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonell, Newsom react
What they're saying:
"Today’s ruling is abundantly clear – the federalization of the National Guard in California is illegal and must end. The President deployed these brave men and women against their own communities, removing them from essential public safety operations. We look forward to all National Guard servicemembers being returned to state service," Gov. Newsom said in a released statement.
Hours after the announcement, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell joined Good Day LA on Wednesday and commented on the judge's ruling.
"The National Guard are a tremendous asset for California and for us, during the fires, they were our partners for us and they did a tremendous job in the Palisades. So I can't say enough good about the California National Guard. When they were federalized and they came in, their mission was to focus on federal properties, federal employees and federal functions, so they weren't on the streets for the most part. They were at the federal facilities doing the job they were assigned to do there, so great partners."
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LAPD Chief reacts to National Guard decision
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell reacted to a judge's decision to keep control of the California National Guard under Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The backstory:
Over the summer, President Donald Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard troops to LA in response to anti-ICE protests. It was a move that was made without Newsom's authorization.
At the time, Pentagon officials said the deployment was expected to cost $134 million.
Newsom also sued the Trump administration over the move, calling the deployment a "complete overreaction" that was "purposely inflammatory and will only escalate tensions."
LA Mayor Karen Bass also widely criticized the deployment.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- Bass calls for end of National Guard, Marine deployment in Los Angeles
- National Guard in LA: Why is Newsom suing the Trump administration?
- Newsom fires back at Trump over deployment of National Guard in LA
- Newsom: Trump wants LA unrest to divide us, using anti-ICE protest fallout for political gain
- Gov. Newsom, Bass, lambast National Guard deployment, formal request to withdraw troops made
The Source: FOX News contributed to this report. This story was also written using information from LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's live interview on Good Day LA on Wednesday, Dec.10 and previous FOX 11 reports.