Federal Judge Rules Trump Illegal National Guard Deployment Los Angeles

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying the National Guard and Marines for law enforcement activities during anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests in Los Angeles. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer found that the military was used to set up protective perimeters, traffic blockades, and crowd control, actions prohibited under the 19th-century law that restricts the military's role in domestic law enforcement. Despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's objections, Trump federalized about 4,000 National Guard members to support federal immigration raids, with some troops remaining active after the main deployment ended. The ruling, limited to California, could have broader implications as the Trump administration plans similar deployments in other cities facing street crime, and the administration is expected to appeal the decision. The case raises fundamental questions about the limits of presidential authority in using military force domestically, with potential for higher courts to weigh in. This development highlights ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities over immigration enforcement and the role of the military on U.S. soil.