Los Angeles Protests and the National Guard
Trump's Legal Victory Upholds His Perspective in Court Case
In the heart of California, a legal standoff between the U.S. government and the state is heating up. Los Angeles (AFP) - Following a ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. President Donald Trump has kept hold of control over the approximately 4,000 National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles due to public unrest.
The court's decision saw the overturning of an earlier injunction by a district court in San Francisco which had declared the deployment of the National Guard by the federal government as unlawful. Originally, the district court had delayed the ruling after the U.S. government filed an appeal.
Now, a panel of three judges - two appointed by Trump and the third by former President Joe Biden - have unanimously ruled in Trump's favor.
The Legal Battleground
Elated by the decision, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, hailing it as "a big win". "This decision is great for our country, and we will continue to protect citizens who uphold the law," he stated. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed disappointment and vowed to carry on challenging what he sees as Trump's authoritarian use of U.S. soldiers against citizens. The West Coast state can now petition the appeals court for a rehearing or escalate the dispute to the Supreme Court, according to the New York Times.
A Controversial Deployment
The tug-of-war between the U.S. government and the West Coast state unfolded against the backdrop of protests against Trump's hardline immigration policy and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. In response, the U.S. government mobilized 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 regular Marine infantry for deployment in Los Angeles. They are expected to remain in the city until further notice as per Trump's wishes. The initial deployment was intended to last for a maximum of 60 days.
Initially, California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom fiercely criticized the deployment, asserting that control over the National Guard normally lies with the states. The U.S. President can take command only in times of war or national emergencies. The National Guard is a military reserve unit and forms part of the U.S. armed forces, being deployed in situations such as natural disasters, public unrest, or internal emergencies. The current deployment, however, is innovative and contentious, as the U.S. government relies on novel legal grounds to justify its authority[1][3]. Furthermore, the use of active-duty Marine forces raises the specter of the Posse Comitatus Act since it limits the Army and Air Force from acting in a law enforcement role within the U.S. without consent from Congress[2][3][5].
The legal battle between the federal government and California over the authority for deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles is ongoing, with the deployment remaining under federal control for the time being[1][3][4].
- The current deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, initially prompted by protests against immigration policy and ICE raids, has sparked a contentious legal battle between California and the U.S. government, focusing on general news, politics, and war-and-conflicts.
- Amidst the ongoing legal battle, California Governor Gavin Newsom has voiced concerns over the use of active-duty Marine forces, questioning the federal government's novel justification for their deployment and the potential violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which relates to crime-and-justice issues.
