A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from continuing his controversial use of the California National Guard in Los Angeles, ordering the White House to return command of the troops to Governor Gavin Newsom by noon Friday.
The ruling, handed down Thursday by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, delivers a major legal blow to the administration’s attempt to override state authority in its escalating immigration crackdown. Trump’s decision to deploy more than 4,000 National Guard troops and several hundred Marines without the governor’s consent ignited a fierce legal battle and sparked alarm among civil rights groups.
Judge Breyer made clear that the president’s emergency powers are not above constitutional review.
“How is this different from a monarchy?” Breyer asked in court, emphasizing that executive power is not immune from constitutional scrutiny.
The White House had argued that the deployment was necessary to protect federal immigration agents allegedly facing interference in Los Angeles. In official orders, Trump described the situation as a “form of rebellion” against federal authority.
But California officials said the protests were mostly peaceful, that local law enforcement had control, and that the federal deployment only served to inflame tensions.
“There has been no rebellion, no insurrection—just political theater,” a spokesperson for Newsom said after the ruling. “And the court clearly saw through it.”
The judge’s order applies only to the National Guard units. The role of the Marines, who were also dispatched over the weekend, remains unresolved. State attorneys warned they could be used to circumvent the court’s directive.
This marks the first time in six decades that a president has attempted to federalize a state’s National Guard without the governor’s approval. The last instance occurred in 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson sent troops into Alabama during the civil rights movement—a comparison California leaders have strongly rejected.
Gov. Newsom has been vocal in his criticism of the deployment, calling it an unlawful use of military force against U.S. citizens.
“Sending trained warfighters into American cities sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the very core of our democracy,” Newsom said earlier this week.
The White House has not indicated whether it will appeal the ruling. In a brief statement, an administration spokesperson reaffirmed the president’s belief that the situation justified federal intervention.
With no reported deaths or serious injuries in recent days, and most demonstrations remaining peaceful, state officials maintain the military presence was unnecessary—and unconstitutional.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This is a developing story.
