Federal Judge Declares Trump's Deployment of National Guard in LA Illegal

Sat Sep 13 2025 12:17:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A landmark ruling by US District Judge Charles Breyer finds President Trump's use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act, stirring political controversy.

A federal judge has ruled that President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles this summer was illegal, as it breached the Posse Comitatus Act. The ruling raises concerns about Trump's intentions to utilize military force for domestic law enforcement. California officials argue they can manage the situation without military assistance. Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to appeal the decision and remains committed to law enforcement strategies that may include further National Guard deployments in other cities.

A federal judge in California has ruled that the way President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles this summer was illegal.

The ruling comes as Trump seeks to use National Guard troops in order to crack down on crime in other US cities and support immigration enforcement.

US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the power of the federal government to use military force for domestic matters.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction. The ruling is currently on hold until 12 September.

The Trump administration is likely to appeal against the ruling. Kelly emphasized that The President is committed to protecting law-abiding citizens, and this will not be the final say on the issue. California Governor Gavin Newsom remarked that the court sided with democracy and the Constitution.

Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June in response to protests against immigration policies. The White House justified the move as necessary for maintaining order, while California officials argued local law enforcement could manage the situation without military involvement.

Judge Breyer's order only applies in California but could lead to further legal challenges regarding Trump's plans to deploy the Guard elsewhere. The Posse Comitatus Act was established in 1878 to prevent the military from execution of domestic laws, with limited exceptions allowed only with Congressional authorization.

Judge Breyer identified that the actions undertaken by the National Guard in Los Angeles, including setting up protective perimeters, traffic blockades, crowd control, and the like, transgressed these legal boundaries.

Concerns were raised by Judge Breyer regarding Trump's executive orders and intentions to potentially use troops in violation of the law in other parts of California, warning of the risk of creating a national police force.

The order has implications beyond just Los Angeles, as it could affect Trump's broader enforcement strategies involving the National Guard in US cities facing unrest due to immigration policies. Newsom previously sued the administration to regain control of the National Guard in California.

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