Govind Tekale
The legal battle over military deployment in Los Angeles escalated Thursday as a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a judge’s ruling that would have returned control of California’s National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay of U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s order, scheduling a hearing for June 17. Earlier Thursday, Judge Breyer had ruled that President Donald Trump unlawfully federalized thousands of California National Guard members, ordering control returned to the state by noon Friday.
“His actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Breyer wrote in his ruling. “Federalism is not optional. Even the president cannot legislate by fiat.”
The back-and-forth legal maneuvers come as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids continue in Los Angeles for a seventh day, with similar demonstrations spreading to at least 37 cities across 21 states.
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Curfew Continues in Downtown Los Angeles
A curfew remains in effect for the third consecutive night in parts of downtown Los Angeles, running from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Pacific Time. The restricted area covers approximately one square mile and affects fewer than 100,000 of the city’s nearly 4 million residents, according to authorities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass implemented the curfew to “stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President’s chaotic escalation.” The Los Angeles Police Department has made over 850 arrests in Los Angeles County since the demonstrations began, with authorities reporting at least 565 arrests nationwide.
Minutes before Thursday’s curfew went into effect, the LAPD’s Central Division reported people in the crowd throwing bricks, concrete, and commercial-grade fireworks, authorizing “less lethal munitions” in response.
How the Protests Started
The demonstrations erupted on June 6 following coordinated raids by ICE agents targeting locations including the Fashion District, a Home Depot in Westlake, and other commercial areas in Los Angeles. The operations led to at least 44 arrests for suspected immigration violations.
Protests quickly escalated as demonstrators clashed with local police and federal agents. Law enforcement used tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bang grenades, and rubber munitions to disperse crowds that at times blocked major thoroughfares, including the 101 Freeway.
Military Deployment Controversy
President Trump has deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles and authorized an additional 700 Marines to assist with immigration enforcement and protest control. The move marks the first instance since 1965 that a president has federalized a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent.
Governor Newsom, who immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the president’s authority, called the ruling “a big day for the Constitution” and for democracy.
“Today was really about a test of democracy and today we passed the test — we the people passed the test,” Newsom said Thursday at a news conference. “The court just confirmed what we all know: The military belongs on the battlefield, not on our city streets.”
The White House swiftly appealed the ruling, arguing in court papers: “The district court has entered an unprecedented order enjoining the President from deploying National Guardsmen to protect federal officers from ongoing violent protests and attacks, and to protect federal property from further damage.”
Escalating Tensions Between Officials
The deployment has created a highly publicized conflict between Trump and California officials. Trump described the Los Angeles protests as a “riot” justifying military intervention, while Newsom characterized the president’s actions as “theater” and “madness.”
“If I didn’t bring the military in, Los Angeles would be burning down right now,” Trump claimed.
In a televised address Tuesday night, Newsom accused Trump of a “brazen abuse of power” and warned, “California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Democracy is under assault before our eyes.”
The governor also claimed that federalized National Guard members had been taken from crucial duties, including border security and wildfire prevention, further exacerbating tensions.
Nationwide Response
As protests continue in Los Angeles, similar demonstrations have emerged across the country. In Las Vegas, authorities arrested 94 people Wednesday after declaring an unlawful assembly when protesters threw water bottles and rocks at police officers. In Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe signed an executive order activating the National Guard as a “precautionary measure.”
More than 1,900 “No Kings” rallies denouncing what organizers describe as Trump’s authoritarian actions are planned nationwide for Saturday—coinciding with a military parade Trump is holding in Washington, DC, on his 79th birthday.
With the appeals court hearing scheduled for June 17 and demonstrations continuing to spread, the situation remains fluid as both sides prepare for the next phase of this unprecedented constitutional conflict.
