Trump Administration's Use of Federalized Troops for Civilian Law Enforcement in California Deemed Illegal

A U.S. District Court ruling has declared the Trump Administration's practice of using federalized California National Guard troops and Marines for civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles a clear violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. This Act prohibits the use of federal military personnel in domestic law enforcement. The court has issued a permanent injunction, effectively halting this practice in California, and prohibiting any future engagement in similar activities, including arrests, searches, seizures, and crowd control. The ruling highlights the Trump Administration's explicit disregard for federal law and its attempt to create a national police force.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Trump Administration's use of federalized troops for civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act.
• The court permanently enjoined the Trump Administration from engaging in the same or similar activities in California, including arrests, searches, seizures, and crowd control.
• The court found that the Trump Administration knew about the law's restrictions and deliberately violated it by instructing troops to perform domestic law enforcement functions.
• President Trump's executive orders and public statements raised concerns about the creation of a national police force, with the President as its chief.
• The Trump Administration's actions infringed on states' rights, as California's police power and residents' economic and other rights were at risk due to the potential misuse of the U.S. military.
• The court rejected the Trump Administration's attempt to create a new exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, stating that any exception would require a valid showing of an insurrection or a state's inability or unwillingness to act.

Statistics:

• 300 National Guard troops remain stationed in Los Angeles, deployed through November, according to the August 5 Activation Order.
• The Posse Comitatus Act has been violated by the Trump Administration knowingly and willfully through its training materials, coordination with state and local officials, and efforts to circumvent the law.

Sources:

• Opinion by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, unnumbered, retrieved from [www.courtlistener.com](http://www.courtlistener.com)
• Press release from the Office of the California Attorney General, retrieved from [oag.ca.gov](http://oag.ca.gov)