On June 12, a US appeals court granted President Donald Trump the ability to continue the deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, amidst ongoing protests related to enhanced immigration enforcement.
This decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily paused a lower court ruling that had deemed the mobilization unlawful and had ordered the troops to return under the control of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who initiated the legal action.
While the appeals court’s ruling does not signal an ultimate agreement with President Trump, it enables him to maintain command of the Guard, at least for the time being.
Earlier the same day, US District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco had found President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to be unlawful and ordered the troops back to state control.
However, shortly after Judge Breyer’s ruling, the appeals court intervened, marking a temporary victory for Trump’s administration.
The ruling from the three-judge panel included two judges appointed by President Trump during his first term and one judge appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden.
The panel announced it would hold a hearing on June 10 to further consider the implications of Judge Breyer’s order.
The appeals court’s decision contributes to the ongoing dynamic of street demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles.
These protests have largely focused around a federal detention center where National Guard troops have been stationed.
In addition to providing security around federal sites, the National Guard has also been noted as accompanying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on various operations.
Judge Breyer expressed concern in his ruling that the presence of troops might be escalating tensions with protesters—a sentiment echoed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and others—effectively hindering the state’s ability to utilize the National Guard for other crucial tasks.
This judicial decision followed a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, where she vowed to “liberate” Los Angeles.
The event was notably interrupted when federal agents forcibly removed Democratic US Senator Alex Padilla from the room, leading to a shocking scene as he was taken to the ground and handcuffed.
This incident highlighted the heightened political polarization stemming from President Trump’s aggressive tactics regarding immigration enforcement and the expansive use of presidential power.
President Trump has been acting on his campaign promise to accelerate the deportation of immigrants, employing often controversial methods that mirror the unorthodox political approach that characterized his election.
In light of the legal proceedings, Governor Newsom announced plans to redeploy the National Guard to its previous priorities, including border security, wildfire preparation, and combating drug smuggling.
Almost immediately, the Trump administration appealed Judge Breyer’s ruling, arguing that it represented an extraordinary violation of the President’s constitutional authority as Commander in Chief.
President Trump justified the National Guard’s deployment by labeling the protests in Los Angeles as a “rebellion,” despite Judge Breyer asserting in a temporary restraining order that the level of protest did not meet the legal definition of rebellion.
Judge Breyer underscored that the court was troubled by the implications of equating protest against the federal government—an essential civil right protected by the First Amendment—with rebellion.
Asserting the necessity of the National Guard, President Trump has claimed that without their presence, Los Angeles would be engulfed in chaos.
Despite these claims, the protests have primarily remained peaceful, with some instances of violence confined to specific city blocks.
President Trump ordered the National Guard into action on June 7 and later called in the US Marines on June 9 to assist federal law enforcement in protecting federal structures amid the unrest and safeguarding immigration agents involved in apprehending individuals suspected of violations.
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