A federal judge has temporarily barred U.S. President Donald Trump from retaining control of California's National Guard, marking a significant legal setback for the administration amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement. The ruling, issued late Thursday by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, requires Trump to return command of the Guard to California Governor Gavin Newsom by Friday noon.
The decision follows protests in Los Angeles sparked by federal immigration raids, which prompted Trump to deploy approximately 4,000 National Guard members and U.S. Marines without the state's consent. Judge Breyer found the deployment violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded presidential authority, calling into question the administration's adherence to statutes governing federalization of state military units.
California's legal challenge argued that the deployment infringed on state sovereignty, with Governor Newsom labeling it a 'political overreach.' The Justice Department countered that courts lack jurisdiction to review presidential decisions on military deployments, but Breyer emphasized the need for evidence that troops were lawfully engaged in federal enforcement activities.
The New York Times described the order as a 'sharp rebuke' to Trump's strategy, which has fueled nationwide debates over immigration policy and states' rights. While the injunction is paused until Friday to allow appeals, a June 20 hearing will determine its permanency. The Trump administration has already filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court.
This case highlights growing friction between federal and state authorities, with implications for governance models and emergency response protocols—a development closely watched by policymakers and legal experts globally.
