On Tuesday evening, a federal judge dismissed California’s governor’s urgent request for a temporary restraining order aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s deployment intended to address the ongoing anti-immigration and customs enforcement riots in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, appointed during Bill Clinton’s presidency, opted not to intervene by a 1 PM deadline. Instead, he scheduled a hearing for California’s request for Thursday.
Breyer, who is related to retired liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, indicated that the federal government could submit its comments by 11 AM Wednesday. California has until 9 AM Thursday to respond to the court.
Breyer is presiding over a lawsuit initiated by Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, contesting Trump’s deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines in Los Angeles.
In a related development, a former officer involved in the Rodney King riots criticized the response, suggesting it came “too late” as violence linked to ICE took hold in the city.
Newsom has publicly clashed with Trump administration officials, accusing them of actings without consulting state law enforcement when they allegedly instructed 2,000 state guard members on operations. Meanwhile, the Trump administration defended its operation, claiming it aims to address violent criminal activity associated with illegal immigrants.
Trump asserted that without intervention, Los Angeles would be in chaos, suggesting that his decision to deploy troops had been timely and crucial for safety.
The protests against ICE actions have escalated into violent riots and looting, with significant anti-American graffiti appearing on buildings.
Newsom criticized the administration’s policy, arguing it disproportionately targets hard-working immigrant families rather than focusing on individuals with serious criminal records.
The governor has sought urgent legal action against the deployment of U.S. military personnel in law enforcement roles throughout Los Angeles.
He claims that Trump’s involvement has increased tensions, with Vice President JD Vance countering that the chaos began with Newsom’s administration, asserting that the situation in Los Angeles had not been problematic before Trump’s engagement.
Vance further challenged Newsom’s claims, stating that California’s issues with illegal immigration predate Trump’s presidency and calling for self-reflection rather than blame directed at the president.
