In the city of San Francisco, California’s dispute with the Trump administration over the deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles resumed in court. A federal judge presided over a brief hearing, moments after a critical procedural win for President Trump by an appeals court. The courtroom saga revolved around the Posse Comitatus Act, which curtails the use of military personnel for civilian law enforcement duties within the United States. Judge Charles Breyer requested briefs from both parties to determine if the act was breached in Los Angeles, requiring submission by the following Monday.
This legal encounter occurred shortly after a panel from the 9th Circuit Court allowed President Trump to maintain command over National Guard troops in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement-related protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom argues the Posse Comitatus Act might already be compromised, yet Judge Breyer had deferred immediate judgment on this particular aspect.
Vice President JD Vance, with his military background as a Marine veteran, visited Los Angeles to meet and support the deployed troops, including Marines tasked with defending federal properties. Vance emphasized the legitimacy of President Trump’s deployment and indicated a readiness to authorize future troops if deemed necessary. “In cities across the nation, if local authorities effectively enforce their laws and protect federal law enforcement, further National Guard deployments would be unwarranted,” Vance articulated to reporters after inspecting a federal operations center.
The deployment comes after a spate of sometimes-violent protests following immigration enforcement actions in Southern California. Federal and state forces have been engaged for public order maintenance and the protection of federal buildings. It’s the first instance in recent history wherein federal troops detained a civilian during such operations.
Despite a ruling that President Trump had initially acted beyond his legal reach by mobilizing the troops without California’s consent, an appellate court’s decision overturned Judge Breyer’s temporary restraining order, keeping the troops active for now. Judge Breyer anticipates further deliberation, particularly whether it falls under his or the appellate court’s jurisdiction to impose an injunction under the Posse Comitatus Act.
Governor Newsom seeks a court order to reclaim authority over the state’s National Guard troops, stressing concerns over heightened tensions, local authority breaches, and resource mishandling. Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles recently rescinded a downtown curfew as the demonstrations settled down, even amid confrontations and federal agent activities around Dodger Stadium.
President Trump leveraged an authority known as Title 10 to deploy the National Guard, normally invoked during invasions or significant threats to governmental stability, which Judge Breyer contested, stating the demonstrations in Los Angeles did not equate to a rebellion. This measure marked the first time since the 1960s that a president dispatched the state National Guard without a governor’s approval.
While the legalities continue to unfold, the troops will remain federally controlled. An appellate court, while acknowledging limits to presidential authority over state troops, deemed the administration’s justification sufficient amid cited protester violence. Trump’s administration argued against judicial scrutiny of presidential troop deployments, although the court suggested such actions should not be absolute. In his response to the ruling, President Trump heralded it as a significant victory, suggesting potential future deployments, while Governor Newsom forewarned other states might experience similar federal interventions if Trump’s measures prevail.