Trump Secures Control of National Guard in LA Amid Controversy

In a contentious legal ruling, President Trump sustains authority over National Guard troops in Los Angeles, disregarding local protests and objections from California's Governor.

In a significant legal decision, a US appeals court has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump's authority to maintain control over approximately 4,000 National Guard members deployed in Los Angeles. This deployment comes in response to ongoing protests against his immigration policies, which local officials have condemned as unnecessary provocations.

On Thursday, a three-judge panel concluded that Trump had acted within his rights to mobilize the troops, emphasizing their role in safeguarding federal personnel and property. Trump proclaimed the ruling a "big win," countering the earlier verdict from a lower court that deemed his actions unauthorized by law.

Judge Charles Breyer, who initially ruled against Trump, stated that the President failed to comply with federal regulations during the National Guard's mobilization, ordering an immediate return of control to California's Governor, Gavin Newsom. However, the appellate court's unanimous decision stayed Breyer's order, underscoring Trump's lawful authority to call up the Guard without gubernatorial permission.

Despite the ruling's implications, the court clarified that Trump's decisions regarding the National Guard aren't beyond judicial scrutiny. Newsom responded robustly, asserting that the court's decision did not grant Trump limitless power. He reaffirmed the importance of checks and balances against what he labeled an "authoritarian" deployment of troops against citizens.

As the Trump administration claims that these troops protect federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during controversial raids targeting suspected undocumented individuals, the legal and political ramifications of this decision continue to resonate deeply within the state and nationwide. With historical parallels drawn to the civil rights movement, the deployment of the National Guard without state consent has sparked a renewed discussion on the limits of presidential power in matters of public safety and civil liberties.