On September 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in June to support immigration raids. The 1878 law prohibits using the military for domestic law enforcement without congressional approval. Breyer’s 52-page decision, issued in San Francisco, found that the administration “systematically used armed soldiers” for crowd control, traffic blockades, and raids, including at marijuana nurseries, actions he deemed a “willful” violation of federal law. The ruling, prompted by a lawsuit from California Governor Gavin Newsom, bars troops from engaging in arrests, searches, or riot control in California, though 300 National Guard members remain.
Trump, who called Breyer a “radical left judge,” defended the deployment as necessary to protect federal agents during protests, vowing to appeal by September 12. Newsom hailed the decision as a defense of democracy, accusing Trump of creating a “national police force.” Critics, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, argue the military presence escalated tensions, while supporters like U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli claim troops only protected federal property. The ruling, limited to California, could influence Trump’s plans to deploy troops to cities like Chicago. Legal experts warn an appeal could expand presidential power if reversed, intensifying debates over military use in civilian contexts.
