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California vs. Trump: Judge Rejects Emergency Block on Troop Surge in LA
As Protests Surge in LA, Court Ruling Keeps National Guard and Marines in Place
sean h
June 10, 2025
🚨 Federal Judge Rejects California's Emergency Bid to Halt Troop
Protests are intensifying across downtown Los Angeles in the wake of last week’s controversial ICE raids, and tensions reached a new high today. A federal judge has denied California’s emergency attempt to stop the Trump administration from deploying thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of U.S. Marines onto LA streets.
This ruling came shortly after Governor Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the federal government, calling the military deployment “unlawful” and executed without the state’s consent.
⚖️ Legal Showdown
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer rejected the state’s emergency request but scheduled a full hearing for Thursday in San Francisco to further examine the issue.
Newsom condemned the federal deployment in harsh terms.
🗨️ “The federal government is now using the military against American citizens,” Newsom said. “This is unprecedented and strikes at the heart of our democracy. Donald Trump is behaving like a tyrant, not a president.”
Bonta echoed those sentiments, calling Trump’s action “illegal and dangerous.”
📣 “The President is deliberately inflaming tensions,” Bonta said. “Law enforcement within our borders is a job for local officials, not the military. We’re asking the court to block this deployment immediately.”
What’s Happening on the Ground?
According to state officials, National Guard troops began moving from San Diego to Los Angeles early Sunday morning, with 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines now in place. Newsom says this was done entirely without his authorization.
The protests began on Friday, sparked by the ICE raids, and have grown steadily since then. While the military presence is visible, officials say troops have not been actively policing the protests — they’re mostly stationed around federal buildings like the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown.
The Lawsuit’s Key Arguments
Newsom and Bonta’s lawsuit asks the court to declare the deployment unconstitutional, arguing that:
✅ Federalizing the National Guard without the state’s consent takes away critical resources needed for California’s own emergencies.
✅ Federal law typically requires the governor’s approval for such a deployment, which was never given.
✅ The order violates the governor’s role as commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and infringes on state authority.
Bonta pointed out that this is only the second time in U.S. history the president has used this power without a state’s request — the first was in 1970, when President Nixon sent in the National Guard to deliver mail during a postal strike.
💸 The High Cost
At a Pentagon budget hearing Tuesday, the estimated cost of Trump’s deployment to Los Angeles was pegged at $134 million. The massive expense is further fueling the debate.
Trump, meanwhile, says the deployment is about preserving “law and order.” On Truth Social Monday, he claimed, without evidence, that without the troops, “Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.”
Personal Attacks Heat Up
The clash between California and the White House has turned deeply personal. On Sunday, acting ICE Director Tom Homan implied that Newsom and other state leaders could be arrested if they obstruct federal operations. The agency later backtracked, saying Homan wasn’t threatening Newsom’s arrest.
Trump, however, didn’t hold back Monday, telling reporters he’d support arresting the governor.
🔥 “I think it’s great,” Trump said. “Gavin loves the spotlight. He’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy, but he’s incompetent. Everybody knows it.”
Newsom responded on MSNBC, dismissing the threats.
🗨️ “Come after me, arrest me. Let’s get it over with,” he said. “I don’t care about myself, but I care about this community. These guys need to grow up. We’re not backing down.”
What’s Next?
For now, the troops remain deployed in Los Angeles, with protests still underway and California’s legal fight gaining momentum. Thursday’s court hearing in San Francisco promises to be a crucial moment in this high-stakes constitutional battle.
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