In a major legal decision, a federal judge has ordered U.S. President Donald Trump to return control of the California National Guard back to the state. The temporary restraining order, issued late Thursday by Judge Charles Breyer, states that the president’s deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles was illegal. The judge ruled that the action violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded his authority. The order will take effect at noon on Friday.
This development stems from President Trump’s decision to send approximately 4,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles following protests over the government’s strict immigration policies. California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed this move and sued to prevent the deployment. The state also sought an emergency order to stop the Guard from assisting with immigration raids.
During a court hearing in San Francisco, government lawyers argued that the president has the power to deploy military forces and that courts should not interfere. However, Judge Breyer questioned whether the president had followed the correct legal steps required to take control of state National Guard units, which are typically commanded by the state’s governor.
The judge’s ruling is seen as a significant challenge to President Trump’s efforts and has been described as a “sharp rebuke.” The deployment of troops has fueled political tensions and sparked protests across the country, with many arguing about the balance between federal authority and states’ rights.
Judge Breyer has scheduled another hearing for June 20 to consider making the restrictions permanent. In the meantime, the Trump administration has appealed the decision to a higher court.
