Chicago – August 12, 2025
A landmark legal case began on Monday over the deployment of National Guard troops by the Trump administration in support of its deportation efforts and to control protests in Los Angeles.
The three-day trial, taking place before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco, will address whether the government’s actions violated a 19th-century law that restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement. This case, brought by the state of California, questions the legality of Trump’s decision to deploy military forces on American streets in June.
Judge Breyer outlined the primary issue at hand: whether the military was engaged in enforcing domestic law, and if so, whether the threat of such actions persists. The case centers on unrest in Los Angeles, which erupted after mass immigration raids targeting locations like Home Depot, a garment factory, and a warehouse where workers gather.
The Trump administration denies using the National Guard in law enforcement roles and intends to argue that the troops were simply protecting federal property and assisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. However, California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, stated on Monday that 300 National Guard members are still involved in immigration raids and restricting civilian movements, even as the administration extended the troops’ deployment through November 6.
California, along with Governor Gavin Newsom, has requested that Judge Breyer bar the National Guard from participating in any direct law enforcement activities. They claim that the National Guard’s involvement in ICE raids and arrests violates the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement.
