USA Judge: Trump's deployment of the National Guard unlawful
A judge has declared the deployment of the National Guard in California by the US government under President Donald Trump to be unlawful.
13.06.2025, 04:34
SDA
Judge Charles Breyer of the District Court in San Francisco thus granted an emergency motion filed by the US West Coast state. Trump had exceeded his authority and must return control of the National Guard to the Californian government, it was stated in the reasoning. The injunction is due to come into force at midday on Friday (local time). The US government has already announced that it will appeal against the judge's ruling.
California Governor Gavin Newsom had sharply criticized the deployment of thousands of National Guard soldiers and the planned deployment of marines at the behest of Trump in Los Angeles due to protests against the government's migration policy.
"The court has just confirmed what we all know: The military belongs on the battlefield, not on our city streets," Newsom wrote on Platform X. Trump must end the "unnecessary militarization of Los Angeles".
In the USA, the states normally have control over the National Guard. In the event of war or national emergencies, the US President can take command. The National Guard is a military reserve unit and part of the US armed forces. It can be deployed in the event of natural disasters, unrest or domestic emergencies.
Their deployment against the governor's opposition is a highly unusual demonstration of the government's power. Since 1965, no US president has taken over the National Guard of a state against its declared will.
Demonstrations against migration policy
The move was preceded by demonstrations in Los Angeles against Trump's tough migration policy and deportation raids by the immigration authority ICE. The US government therefore mobilized 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines from the regular armed forces for the operation in Los Angeles. The soldiers arrived gradually and, according to Trump, are to remain in the city until there is no longer any danger. So far, the deployment has been scheduled for a maximum of 60 days.
