State and Local Leaders Respond
California officials praised the ruling. Governor Newsom stated, “No president is a king — not even Trump — and no president can trample a state’s power to protect its people.” He added, “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.”
Mayor Bass also welcomed the decision, reiterating her criticism of what she called an “invasion” of Los Angeles by federal troops. “We will not be divided and we will not be defeated,” she said.
The Pentagon had sent about 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines into Los Angeles in June. Although the Marines have since returned to their bases, several hundred Guard members remain. Troops were spotted at various immigration enforcement operations, including at MacArthur Park and cannabis cultivation sites north of the city, prompting sharp criticism from immigrant rights advocates and local officials.
Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, who led the National Guard deployment, testified in court that he was informed troops could conduct security patrols, traffic control, crowd management, and riot response in addition to protecting federal property. “We were allowed to do these four things because it was in line with what the president was directing,” Sherman said.
Judge Breyer challenged these justifications, questioning what limits, if any, existed on the use of such federalized forces. Justice Department attorney Eric Hamilton argued the troops were carrying out a protective role, not violating the Posse Comitatus Act. Breyer pressed further, asking, “In other words, we’re going to see federal officers everywhere if the president determines there’s a threat to the safety of federal agents? That’s what you’re saying the law is.”
Judge Rules Trump Violated Law With LA Deployment
The ruling by Judge Charles Breyer marks a major legal challenge to the Trump administration’s use of military forces in U.S. cities. By declaring the deployment a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, the court has restricted the president’s ability to use federal troops for civilian law enforcement. The decision has drawn sharp responses from both sides, with the White House defending the deployment and California leaders celebrating the ruling as a protection of state authority. The outcome leaves hundreds of Guard members still in Los Angeles but operating under strict legal limits.
