Court Rules Military Deployment for Protest Suppression Illegal... Controversy Expected to Grow
Trump Signals Possible Troop Deployments in New York, Chicago
"Mobilizing Troops Against Citizens Is Illegal," Says Democratic Contender Newsom
A U.S. court has blocked President Donald Trump's deployment of the California National Guard, ruling that it violates federal law.
On September 2 (local time), Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that President Trump's decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles (LA) violated the federal Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. However, this ruling applies only to the state of California. The court did not order the withdrawal of the troops remaining in LA and, considering the possibility of an appeal by President Trump, suspended the effect of the ruling until September 12.
Judge Breyer stated, "There were indeed protests in LA, and some participants engaged in violence," but added, "However, there was no insurrection, and civil law enforcement authorities were not incapable of responding to the protests." He further pointed out that President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth "have expressed their willingness to deploy the National Guard at the federal level in other cities across the country," and warned, "Through this, they would effectively create a national police force headed by the President."
Previously, in June, President Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines in response to protests in LA opposing his immigration enforcement policies. The state of California subsequently filed a lawsuit, claiming that the deployment of the National Guard was illegal.
President Trump later mobilized the National Guard in Washington, D.C. under the pretext of crime suppression and also indicated that he could deploy troops in Chicago, Baltimore, Oakland, and New York. Analysts noted that these cities are strongholds of Democratic support, suggesting a political motive. Attention is now focused on whether this ruling will influence President Trump's consideration of deploying troops to other cities.
Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California and a prominent Democratic presidential contender, emphasized on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) immediately after the ruling, "Donald Trump has lost again," and added, "The court has confirmed that deploying the military to our streets and mobilizing troops against American citizens is illegal."
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