Trump Must End National Guard Deployment In LA And Return Control To Newsom, Judge Orders

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration must end the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles and return command of the troops to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

President Donald Trump in June ordered 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests in response to immigration-enforcement raids in the area. Trump argued that local law enforcement authorities were not able to adequately protect the safety of immigration officials and federal vehicles and buildings in the area.

The deployment was later reduced to about 300 troops. California sued the administration to end the deployment, claiming the move violated the Constitution.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer wrote in his Wednesday ruling that command of about 100 remaining federalized National Guardsman in Los Angeles must return to Newsom.

Breyer previously ruled against the deployment, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in June that conditions in Los Angeles were sufficient for Trump to take control of the guard.

Wednesday's ruling comes after the state filed a new request for an injunction in November, arguing that civil unrest in Los Angeles had declined since the summer and that military forces were no longer justified, the New York Times reported.

Breyer wrote there is "no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way — let alone significantly."

Following the Los Angeles deployment, 200 California Guardsmen were sent to Oregon in the fall to help quash demonstrations outside an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a similar challenge to the deployment in Illinois.

"Defendants have sent California Guardsmen into other states, effectively creating a national police force made up of state troops. In response to Plaintiffs' motion to enjoin this conduct, Defendants take the position that, after a valid initial federalization, all subsequent re-federalizations are completely, and forever, unreviewable by the courts. Defendants' position is contrary to law," Breyer wrote.

California leaders celebrated the ruling.

"Today's ruling is abundantly clear — the federalization of the National Guard in California is illegal and must end," Newsom said Wednesday morning. "The president deployed these brave men and women against their own communities, removing them from essential public safety operations. We look forward to all National Guard servicemembers being returned to state service."

The Trump administration signaled an appeal of the ruling, which is set to go into effect Monday.

"President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like Newscum refused to stop. We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.

City News Service contributed to this report.