Trump Wins Procedural Victory in California National Guard Deployment Lawsuit

Strategic Insights -

A federal appeals court decision on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to keep control of national guard troops deployed in response to protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles. The decision halted a temporary restraining order from US district judge Charles Breyer, who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California's governor, Gavin Newsom. Despite the setback, California's attorneys are expected to ask Breyer on Friday for a preliminary injunction returning control of the troops in Los Angeles to Newsom.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ninth circuit appellate panel allowed Trump to keep control of national guard troops deployed in response to protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, halting a temporary restraining order from US district judge Charles Breyer.
  • The appellate decision was a procedural win for Trump, allowing him to maintain control of the troops while the lawsuit proceeds.
  • California's attorneys are expected to ask Breyer for a preliminary injunction returning control of the troops in Los Angeles to Newsom.
  • The protests in Los Angeles began two weeks ago over aggressive immigration raids at workplaces in the region.
  • The immigration raids have continued unabated, despite a decline in protests in the past week.
  • Trump has argued that the troops have been necessary to restore order, while Newsom has said their presence has inflamed tensions in the city, usurped local authority, and wasted resources.
  • The California national guard has been federalized since their deployment, making it the first deployment by a president of a state National Guard without the governor's permission since troops were sent to protect civil rights marchers in 1965.
  • Trump celebrated the appellate ruling as a "BIG WIN" and hinted at potential future deployments.
  • Newsom has warned that California won't be the last state to see troops in the streets if Trump gets his way.

Statistics:

  • 4,000 national guard troops and about 700 active-duty marines have been deployed to Los Angeles.
  • The protests in Los Angeles have been largely restricted to a few blocks downtown, with few demonstrations in the past week.
  • Trump has argued that the troops have been necessary to restore order in response to violent acts by protesters.
  • The prosecution has presented evidence of violent acts by protesters, including vandalism and violence, to justify the federalization of the troops.
  • The California national guard has been federalized for the first time since 1965.

Sources:

  • Charles Breyer, US district judge (Gavin Newsom vs. Donald Trump)
  • Donald Trump, President of the United States (social media post)
  • Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (statement to the press)
  • 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (ruling on national guard deployment)
  • Reuters (photograph of protests in Los Angeles)