Trump’s use of National Guard during LA immigration protests ruled illegal

Judge: Trump illegally deployed Nat'l Guard to LA

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration's use of National Guard troops during Los Angeles' immigration enforcement protests was illegal.

WASHINGTON (KTTV) - A judge has ruled the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops during Southern California immigration enforcement protests was illegal.

Judge Charles Breyer ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s administration violated federal law by sending troops to accompany federal agents on immigration raids. The judge in Washington did not require the remaining troops to be withdrawn, however.

California sued, saying the troops sent to Los Angeles over the summer were violating a law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for the Republican administration have argued the Posse Comitatus Act doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers not enforcing laws. They say the troops were mobilized under an authority that allows the president to deploy them.

LA mayor responds

What they're saying:

"I applaud the court for today’s important ruling. The White House tried to invade the second-largest city in the country. That’s illegal. Los Angeles will not buckle and we will not break. We will not be divided and we will not be defeated," said LA Mayor Karen Bass. 

Newsom also applauded the decision, saying that Trump's use of the military for civilian law enforcement must be stopped throughout the country.

"Today, the court sided with democracy and the Constitution," according to a statement from Newsom. "No president is a king -- not even Trump -- and no president can trample a state's power to protect its people. As the court today ruled, Trump is breaking the law by `creating a national police force with the President as its chief.' That's exactly what we've been warning about for months. There is no rampant lawlessness in California, and in fact, crime rates are higher in Republican-led states. Trump's attempt to use federal troops as his personal police force is illegal, authoritarian, and must be stopped in every courtroom across this country."

The backstory:

Troops were federalized and deployed to LA in early June in response to immigration raids and protests. 

President Donald Trump originally ordered that 2,000 California National Guard troops be deployed to LA to protect federal buildings and personnel. He then deployed an additional 2,000 troops along with 700 US Marines.

About 300 National Guard troops remain in Los Angeles, and the Trump administration has said they would stay in the area at least until November.

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The federalization of National Guard troops was repeatedly condemned by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Trump administration, challenging the legality of its move.