California is taking legal action against President Donald Trump’s administration regarding the deployment of the state’s National Guard in response to unrest surrounding immigration raids in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit, announced during a press conference on June 9, follows a surge in tensions catalyzed by anti-deportation protests that have, at times, turned violent.
Following clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, California Attorney-General Rob Bonta emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that President Trump was unlawfully mobilizing the National Guard.
This escalation of violence was particularly evident during the night of June 8, as certain protesters engaged in vandalism and aggression, including the burning of cars.
LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell commented on the deterioration of the demonstrations, noting that while many earlier protests had been peaceful, conditions worsened as night fell and more aggressive participants joined the fray.
“This violence that I’ve seen is disgusting,” McDonnell asserted, addressing the media on June 8.
Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have publicly condemned President Trump for exacerbating the unrest by deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to the area.
In response to the federalization of the troops, Governor Newsom declared he would formally request the White House to retract what he deems an unlawful order.
In a post on X, Governor Newsom stated, “He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard.
The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA. It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing. We’re suing him.”
The protests have drawn the ire of President Trump, who labeled them as “migrant riots.”
On his Truth Social platform, he claimed federal agencies were authorized to take all necessary actions to continue immigration operations.
The President has even suggested that Governor Newsom should be arrested in connection to the protests.
Mr. Newsom has acknowledged the need for order but contends that the scale of violence observed does not justify the federalization of California’s National Guard.
He mentioned that he had formally asked the White House to return the troops to his command prior to the lawsuit, cautioning that their presence could further inflame the situation.
President Trump has instructed US Northern Command to take control of the National Guard and dispatch 2,000 soldiers to the greater Los Angeles area, with the deployment set for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.
Currently, about 300 soldiers have been stationed at three locations throughout the city, according to Northern Command.
In justifying the use of National Guard troops, President Trump issued a proclamation characterizing the protests as a rebellion against the authority of the United States government.
He invoked a law that allows the President to employ the National Guard during a rebellion or in cases where regular forces are insufficient to enforce US laws.
At the June 9 press conference, Attorney-General Bonta challenged the basis for invoking this law, stating, “it is a rarely used and invoked section of the law, but the language is clear in the law.
One, you need to have a rebellion. There’s no rebellion. Or two, you need to have an invasion. There’s no invasion. Three, you need to be unable, with the regular forces, to execute the laws of the United States.”
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