Trump sent military to ‘silence’ LA protests, says California as judge questions president’s authority on troop deployment

In June, Trump had ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in order to contain days of protests and unrest triggered by mass immigration raids.

By: Express Web Desk

August 13, 2025 06:37 AM IST

3 min read

us marine, national guards, los angeles protest, trump, california

Protesters confront a line of US National Guard in the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP Photo)

The US government’s decision to deploy National Guard troops in Los Angeles to protect the officers carrying out the US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown was an illegal move and it should be ended, said a lawyer of California state to a federal judge on Tuesday.

The landmark trial against the federal government began on Monday and California’s lawyer presented evidence that showed soldiers of Nationals Guard and Marines, deployed in Los Angeles in June by the Trump administration, violated a 19th century law that restricts the military from civilian law enforcement.

According to lawyer Meghan Strong of the California Attorney General’s Office, “The government wanted a show of military force so great that any opposition to their agenda was silenced,” Reuters reported.

Defending the federal government’s move, Justice Department attorney Eric Hamilton said that there was “substantial violence” in Los Angeles that merits the deployment of military and said that National Guard and Marines troops were in the city only to protect federal agents and property.

In June, Trump had ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in order to contain days of protests and unrest triggered by mass immigration raids carried out by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the federal government’s move and alleged it violates prohibitions on the use of the military in law enforcement, while suing the Trump administration.

US District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco is hearing the arguments and has not revealed when he would rule in the matter. Breyer will determine whether the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA).

A Reuters report stated that Judge Breyer appeared skeptical whether President Trump had the sole discretion to decide when troops were needed. “Is it a ‘rebellion’ because the president says it is a ‘rebellion’?” Breyer asked Justice Department’s attorney Hamilton during the government’s closing argument.

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