California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken a bold step by filing an emergency order against President Donald Trump and the Department of Defense. The move comes in response to what Newsom has deemed as the “unlawful militarization of Los Angeles.”
The emergency order seeks to block the Trump administration’s plans to use federalized National Guard troops and Marines to accompany federal immigration enforcement officers on raids throughout Los Angeles. Newsom’s filing ominously predicts that these actions must be stopped immediately.
According to the motion, the Trump administration intends to use federalized California National Guard troops to provide support for counter-immigration operations, rather than for protecting federal buildings as Trump has claimed. These activities, scheduled to begin on June 10, 2025, include holding a secure perimeter in communities around areas where immigration enforcement activities would take place and securing routes over public streets where immigration enforcement officers would travel.
Despite Newsom’s efforts, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer declined to issue an immediate restraining order but agreed to schedule a hearing on the motion for Thursday. In the meantime, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appeared to be carrying out the predicted actions. The agency’s social media account posted photos of National Guard soldiers standing guard while masked officers conducted arrests.
The filing highlights that prior to the deployment of federal troops, an estimated 250 people were protesting ICE raids in the city. However, once Trump ordered in the military, that number swelled to over 3,000. California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the President’s actions, stating that he is seeking any pretext to place military forces on American streets to intimidate and silence those who disagree with him, which is not only immoral but also illegal and dangerous.
Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles has sparked accusations of federal overreach. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed concern over the lack of advance notice regarding the troops’ arrival, presenting a significant logistical and operational challenge to the city. Newsom echoed McDonnell’s sentiments, criticizing Trump for deploying the troops without informing the state beforehand.
The 28-page filing emphasizes that, except for specific circumstances, National Guard troops cannot be federalized without the governor’s consent, which did not happen in this instance. The state argues that this action is a clear assault on state sovereignty and suggests that Trump could assume control of any state militia.
Overall, Newsom’s emergency order underscores the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities regarding immigration enforcement and military intervention on American streets. The upcoming hearing will shed more light on the legal battle between California and the Trump administration over the militarization of Los Angeles.
