National Guard in LA What Trump’s Deployment Means for Protests and Federal Law
President Trump deployed 2000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles under federal authority amid immigration protests . Learn what the Guard can legally do how state leaders reacted and what comes next for civil liberties .
Trumps Federal Order Brings National Guard to LA
On June 7 2025 President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum invoking 10 USC § 12406 ordering the federalization of 2000 California National Guard troops for a 60 day mission . The purpose was to protect federal personnel and property including ICE and DHS agents amid surging protests across Los Angeles following aggressive immigration enforcement raids .
The move bypassed the more controversial Insurrection Act which would have granted broader authority for military involvement in domestic law enforcement .
Legal Grounds What §12406 Permits
Section 12406 permits the president to federalize the National Guard when rebellion or unlawful obstruction of federal law occurs . While this action avoids invoking the Insurrection Act it still allows the president to deploy troops without state approval in extraordinary cases. However the use of force and scope of authority remain limited under federal law .
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Posse Comitatus Act What Troops Can’t Do
The Posse Comitatus Act strictly prohibits federally controlled military forces from engaging in civilian law enforcement . This means the National Guard once federalized cannot make arrests detain civilians or enforce local laws. The order carefully restricts their role to protecting federal buildings and personnel not policing protests or public areas .
Fierce Opposition from California Officials
California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly condemned the federal move calling it unlawful and inflammatory . He argued that it violated state sovereignty and unnecessarily escalated tensions. Newsom formally demanded the withdrawal of troops and announced a lawsuit challenging the federal action supported by the ACLU .
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed these concerns urging for calm and peaceful protest while rejecting the need for military presence .
Rising Tensions and Clashes on the Ground
The protests initially sparked by ICE raids intensified following the National Guard deployment . Demonstrators in cities like Compton and Paramount blocked highways burned vehicles including self driving cars and clashed with law enforcement . Tear gas rubber bullets and other crowd control tactics were used by local police .
Over 30 to 50 arrests were reported and injuries were confirmed on both sides including a protester and a Border Patrol agent .
Military Buildup and Trumps Tweets
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that 500 active duty Marines under NORTHCOM were placed on standby in case of further escalation . President Trump added fuel to the fire with a tweet saying BRING IN THE TROOPS suggesting he may consider further deployments if unrest continues .
Historical and Constitutional Precedent
This federalization marks the first such action without state request since 1965 when President Lyndon B Johnson sent troops to Alabama . Unlike previous crises such as the 1992 Rodney King riots this deployment lacks federal state coordination raising legal and historical concerns .
Experts argue that the protests do not meet the threshold of a rebellion making the order legally questionable and politically divisive .
Civil Liberties Under Threat
Civil rights advocates including the ACLU warned the deployment risks chilling First Amendment rights . Critics argue that using military force against largely peaceful protests sets a dangerous precedent threatening democratic norms and public trust .
What Comes Next
Governor Newsoms lawsuit may determine the legality of Trumps order but the courts may not act before the 60 day federal period expires . Meanwhile legal experts political leaders and civil rights groups continue to monitor the unfolding situation which could reshape the boundaries of federal power state sovereignty and civil liberties in America .