A U.S. appeals court has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump to maintain his deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles amid protests sparked by stepped-up immigration enforcement. This move puts on hold a lower court ruling that declared the deployment unlawful, giving the president control over the Guard for now as the legal battle moves forward.
Appeals Court Pauses Lower Court’s Order
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard was unlawful and ordered the troops to return to the control of California Governor Gavin Newsom. However, just hours later, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay, temporarily pausing Breyer’s order and allowing the Guard to remain under federal command.
Governor Newsom expressed confidence that Breyer’s ruling will eventually stand despite the temporary pause. The appeals panel, comprising two judges appointed by Trump and one by President Joe Biden, plans to hold a hearing on Tuesday to review the case’s merits.
Marines Join the National Guard in Los Angeles
Following the Guard deployment, Trump ordered approximately 700 active-duty Marines to support the troops—a rare use of military forces to assist civilian law enforcement. The Marines are set to arrive on Friday, stationed at a federal detention center downtown where many protests have occurred.
While protests have mostly remained peaceful, occasional violence has erupted in response to the immigration raids that triggered the unrest. The Guard has also accompanied Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during immigration arrest operations.
Judge Breyer expressed concern that the military presence might escalate tensions among protesters and prevent California from using the Guard for other critical tasks like wildfire response and border security.
Local Leaders Push Back
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has called for ICE to halt its intensified raids, warning they damage the local economy as immigrant workers stay home in fear. She declared that peace begins with ICE leaving Los Angeles and imposed a nighttime curfew over parts of downtown.
At a DHS press briefing, Secretary Kristi Noem vowed to liberate Los Angeles, a statement followed by a dramatic scene where federal agents forcibly removed and handcuffed Democratic Senator Alex Padilla, highlighting the deep political tensions surrounding the enforcement tactics. In a legal and political battle over presidential authority, the appeals court’s decision to allow federal authorities to control the National Guard temporarily is essentially at the center of this ongoing struggle for control.
This case centers on the question of whether the president, with his constitutional mandate, can deploy troops within the United States to conduct law enforcement. This issue has long been contentious in the United States and remains a highly controversial topic.
Governor Newsom’s lawsuit asserts that the deployment is an overreach and a violation of California’s liberties to independently manage its National Guard, as well as respond to state emergencies.
Trump Defends Action Amid Legal Fight
The Trump administration quickly appealed Breyer’s ruling, calling it an extraordinary intrusion on the president’s powers as Commander-in-Chief. Trump has labeled the protests a rebellion,” though Breyer ruled they don’t meet the legal definition and affirmed the right to peaceful protest.
On Friday, Trump reiterated his stance on social media: “We saved L.A.” by sending in the National Guard, reinforcing his determination to continue forceful immigration enforcement despite legal and political challenges.
Stay informed with ImmigrationQuestion.com
For timely updates and expert analysis on immigration enforcement and related immigration issues, visit ImmigrationQuestion.com. Get trusted answers and guidance from professional immigration attorneys.
