Judge Blocks Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Los Angeles Amid Protests

A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops in Los Angeles, ruling the action violated federal law. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco ordered that the National Guard be returned to the control of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who filed the lawsuit. The order takes effect at noon Friday.

Trump deployed troops to support immigration enforcement amid protests, calling the situation a “rebellion.” Breyer disagreed, stating the mostly peaceful demonstrations do not meet that standard. He emphasized that labeling protests as rebellion risks infringing on First Amendment rights.

The Trump administration immediately appealed the decision. The Pentagon declined to comment. Newsom, objecting to the federal military presence, said the deployment bypassed state authority and threatened civil liberties. He added, “Trump is not a monarch—he should stop acting like one.”

Tensions escalated further when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem vowed to "liberate" Los Angeles during a press event, which ended chaotically as federal agents forcibly removed Democratic Senator Alex Padilla.

While Trump also deployed Marines to back up the National Guard and federal agents, Breyer’s ruling only addressed the National Guard. Marines remain under Trump’s direct authority as commander-in-chief. The judge noted that the military presence has intensified public unrest and weakened California’s ability to use its Guard resources for critical state needs like wildfire response and drug enforcement.

California also requested a ban on troop involvement in arrests or neighborhood patrols. Breyer said it was too early to determine if those activities were occurring. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal powers over immigration policy and civil protest response.