San Francisco: A federal judge in California has ordered the termination of US President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles, ruling that he exceeded his constitutional authority by taking control of state forces without lawful justification.
US District Judge Charles Breyer, based in San Francisco, issued the ruling this week, directing that the troops be returned to Governor Gavin Newsom's control. The decision marks another major setback for Trump as courts continue to strike down his attempts to use National Guard units in Democratic-led cities.
According to news agency Reuters, Judge Breyer found no legal basis for Trump's claim that protests against federal immigration authorities amounted to a "rebellion" that justified federalizing California National Guard units. He said the administration had presented "no evidence" that the situation met the standards required to seize control of state troops.
"The founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances. Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one," the judge said, criticising the administration's stance.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Governor Newsom, who asked the court to block an August order placing around 300 California National Guard troops under federal command until February 2026.
Illinois governor signs law limiting immigration arrestsIllinois Governor JB Pritzker has approved a new state law that restricts when and where immigration agents can make arrests, The New York Times reported. The measure blocks civil immigration enforcement at state courthouses and within 1,000 feet of them, and gives residents more power to sue federal agents if they believe their rights were violated. The law was passed in October as federal authorities carried out a major immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, leading to thousands of arrests and repeated tensions with local communities. |
