A fierce legal and political showdown erupted after President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops—and later U.S. Marines—into Los Angeles amid protests over intensified immigration enforcement.
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According to Reuters, a U.S. District Judge initially ruled the deployment unlawful and ordered Guard control returned to Governor Gavin Newsom, but an appeals court paused that decision, allowing troops to remain for now.
On June 12, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued a 36-page temporary restraining order, finding that federalizing the California National Guard without the governor’s consent likely exceeded presidential authority and risked infringing on civil liberties.
Breyer wrote, “The Court is troubled by the implication inherent in Defendants' argument that protest against the federal government, a core civil liberty protected by the First Amendment, can justify a finding of rebellion”.
He further noted that Trump’s characterization of protests as a “rebellion” did not meet legal standards and could inflame tensions.
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Shortly after, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay, temporarily allowing Trump to retain command of Guard forces in L.A. while the litigation continues.
The appeals court also scheduled a hearing to consider the merits of Newsom’s challenge.
The legal tussle underscores fierce federal–state friction: California officials insisted local law enforcement had adequate capacity, while the White House argued troops were needed to protect federal property and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting raids.
Reuters reported that 700 U.S. Marines were expected to arrive in support of the Guard, marking a rare domestic use of active-duty forces.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew in parts of downtown, warning that ongoing raids were harming local communities and calling for ICE to stand down.
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Trump defended his move on social media, asserting that without federal troops “it would be burning to the ground right now”, while Newsom denounced the action as an “unwarranted federal intrusion.”
Public opinion remains divided: a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed roughly half of Americans supported using military forces to restore order when protests became violent, while many criticized the move as authoritarian overreach.
As the appeals process unfolds, stakeholders across the U.S. will watch closely: the outcome may set precedent on presidential authority to deploy troops domestically. For now, Los Angeles braces for continued tensions as courts weigh in.
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