PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: A federal court hearing is taking place in San Francisco regarding President J. Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles amid violent riots over immigration enforcement.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald Trump, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), National Guard troops, and Marines.
📍 Where & When: Thursday; protests occurred in Los Angeles over the weekend following ICE raids last week.
💬 Key Quote: The Trump administration referred to Newsom’s lawsuit as a “crass political stunt endangering American lives.”
⚠️ Impact: The deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines has sparked a legal battle, raising questions about federal authority.
IN FULL:
A federal court hearing is scheduled for Thursday to address California Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles following violent riots over immigration enforcement operations.
The protests erupted over the weekend after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids last week, leading to the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants. In response, Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city despite objections from Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats.
Newsom filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that Trump’s actions overstep presidential authority and infringe on state powers. Newsom contends that the deployment, initially intended to protect federal buildings, has expanded to include support for immigration enforcement, which he claims could escalate tensions further.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer—the younger brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer—on Tuesday declined Newsom’s request to immediately limit the National Guard’s law enforcement activities to federal properties. Instead, Breyer scheduled a hearing for Thursday in San Francisco federal court.
The Trump administration dismissed the lawsuit as a politically motivated move, with officials stating on Wednesday that it jeopardizes public safety. “This is a crass political stunt endangering American lives,” a spokesman for the administration said.
As of now, the National Guard has had limited interaction with protesters, while Marines have not been observed in Los Angeles. Military officials confirmed on Tuesday that some National Guard members are stationed near federal agents to provide protection. Although the Guard can temporarily detain individuals who attack officers, arrests remain the responsibility of law enforcement.