Federal Judges Rule Trump's National Guard Deployments in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Unlawful
Federal judges, including Judge Charles Breyer, ruled President Trump's National Guard deployments in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. unlawful, citing Posse Comitatus Act violations.
Overview
Multiple federal judges, including Judge Charles Breyer, ruled President Trump's deployment of National Guard and military personnel to Los Angeles unlawful during immigration enforcement and protests.
The rulings cited violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the military from performing police functions in civil matters without an insurrection, a condition judges found absent.
Judges found no rebellion in Los Angeles, concluding civilian law enforcement was capable and protests manageable, thus deeming the military deployment for domestic law enforcement illegal.
California Governor Gavin Newsom successfully sued the Trump administration over the illegal federalization of state militia members in Los Angeles, with the administration expected to appeal.
The District of Columbia also filed lawsuits against President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops, while Trump considered similar interventions in Chicago, opposed by Governor Pritzker.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the legal challenges and strong opposition to President Trump's deployment of the National Guard. They highlight judicial rulings and local officials' criticisms, portraying the actions as federal overreach and an illegal use of military force for domestic law enforcement, often undermining the administration's justifications.
Sources (33)
Center (13)
FAQ
The Posse Comitatus Act is a federal law passed in 1878 that generally prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement activities unless explicitly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. It aims to prevent the military from performing civilian police functions to maintain the separation between military and civilian authority.
Judge Breyer ruled that the deployment violated the Posse Comitatus Act because federal troops were used for police functions such as arrests, crowd control, and traffic blockades despite there being no rebellion or inability of civilian law enforcement to handle the situation, which is prohibited by the Act.
Governor Gavin Newsom successfully sued the Trump administration over the illegal federalization of California's National Guard members, leading to a court ruling that deemed the deployment unlawful under the Posse Comitatus Act.
Yes, the District of Columbia also filed lawsuits against President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops, and there was opposition from Illinois Governor Pritzker when Trump contemplated similar deployments in Chicago.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the court rulings that found the National Guard deployments in Los Angeles unlawful under the Posse Comitatus Act.
History
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