Judge: Trump's Deployment of National Guard to Calif. Was Illegal

In a 52-page decision that strictly limits what National Guard troops can do in California, a federal judge warned of a "national police force with the President as its chief."
Sept. 2, 2025
6 min read

What to know

  • A federal judge barred the Trump administration from using soldiers in immigration arrests and other civilian policing in California.

  • The ruling, set to take effect Sept. 12 but likely headed for appeal, limits the role of about 300 troops still in Los Angeles following June deployments.

  • The decision raises broader questions over presidential authority to deploy military forces domestically, with experts warning of precedent-setting implications.

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