Trump illegally sent troops to Los Angeles, judges the rules. What it means for other cities.
A California federal judge on Tuesday judged that the use by the Trump administration of the Troops of the National Guard and the US Marines in Los Angeles this summer was illegal.
The deployment of June, ostensibly to protect the federal agents of property and the application of laws in the midst of anti-immigration demonstrations in the city, took place regarding the objections of the Governor of California Gavin Newsom. In a 52 -page decision on September 2, judge Charles R. Breyer wrote that the functions assigned to the troops violated the Comitatus law, a law of 1878 prohibiting the use of military personnel for domestic law enforcement activities.
Presidents who deploy the national guard in a state on the objections of a governor were rare in the history of the United States. Nevertheless, President Donald Trump suggested that he could deploy national guard troops in other jurisdictions led by Democrats, including Chicago.
Why we wrote this
When President Donald Trump sent the National Guard and the Marines to Los Angeles, he violated a law prohibiting the use of military personnel for the domestic law enforcement activities, a judge on Tuesday judged. The decision could serve as a guide on how the courts interpret the deployments of the National Guard in other states.
Although Tuesday’s decision has no legal force outside of California, it could serve as a guide on how other courts interpret the deployments of the National Guard in other states, according to experts. And the decision can make President Trump hesitate before deploying the National Guard in another city.
“The same Comitatus law and the same constitution apply to Chicago and Baltimore and across the country,” explains Rachel Vanlandingham, former Air Force judge.
“It is a clear blow through the arc against President Trump as a warning not to do something similar [other] cities. “”
By referring to other potential deployments, judge Breyer described Mr. Trump and the defense secretary Pete Hegseth as trying to create “a national police force with the president as his leader”.
“There is no doubt that federal staff should be able to do their work without fear of their security,” added the judge. “But to use it as a hook to send military troops alongside federal agents wherever they prove too much and frustrate the very purpose of the Comitatus law.”
The White House criticized the decision in a statement.
“Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the commander-in-chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction,” said Anna Kelly, a spokesperson, according to social media. “It will not be the last word on the issue.”
The Trump administration will likely appeal the decision to the American Court of Appeal for the ninth circuit. The case seems to be intended for the Supreme Court of the United States.
This is a story in development and will be updated.
