A federal judge has determined that President Donald Trump acted unlawfully when he took control of the California State Guard during a riot linked to immigration issues in Los Angeles. US District Judge Charles R. Breyer issued this ruling on Thursday, directing Governor Gavin Newsom to regain security authority promptly.
In his decision, Breyer stated, “His actions were illegal. They exceed his statutory authority and infringe upon the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution.” He consequently ordered that control of the California National Guard be swiftly returned to the state’s governor.
The ruling emphasized the importance of federalism, noting, “Even the president cannot legislate through Fiat.” Recent protests against immigration enforcement had escalated into riots and confrontations with federal agents in Los Angeles, prompting Trump’s call for federal intervention. Breyer, however, rejected this justification as unconstitutional.
The judge granted a temporary restraining order at the plaintiff’s request, effectively halting federal control of the California National Guard. The ruling states, “The defendant is temporarily barred from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles.” Furthermore, he reiterated that control must be returned to Governor Newsom.
The court established a deadline for compliance, requiring the defendant to respond by noon on June 13, 2025, along with a nominal payment of $100 within 24 hours. Looking ahead, Breyer has scheduled a hearing for June 20, 2025, to decide if the temporary restraining order should turn into a more permanent injunction, asking the defendant to prove why an interim injunction should not be granted.
As of now, the White House has not offered any comments regarding this ruling.
