Posted on 09/02/25
| News Source: FOX45
A federal judge ruled Tuesday morning that President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated federal law when they used troops in Los Angeles to protect federal agents during an aggressive immigration crackdown.
“The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles. In short, Defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act,” Judge Charles Breyer wrote.
The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement purposes and aims to prevent military involvement in civilian affairs.
In June, the president federalized California National Guard members and sent them to Los Angeles after protests erupted when immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) started raids at several locations in and around the city, including a Home Depot parking lot.
California sued the Trump administration, accusing the president of circumventing state authority and inflaming immigration protests when he dispatched National Guard troops against the state's wishes.
Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated the victory on social media by writing, "DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree -- his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL."
The decision comes as Trump decides whether or not to deploy the National Guard in Democratic-led cities such as Chicago, Baltimore and New York.
"Almost three months after Defendants first deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, 300 National Guard members remain stationed there. Moreover, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have stated their intention to call National Guard troops into federal service in other cities across the country...thus creating a national police force with the President as its chief," Breyer said.