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California is suing President Trump and the Secretary of Defense over an order to deploy state guard members to Los Angeles, state prosecutors announced Monday.
State Attorney General Rob Bonta said federalizing the California State Guard without the demands of state and local leaders was “abuse of presidential authority.” He said the state’s sovereignty was “trampled down” by the move. The White House announced Saturday after protests against recent immigration enforcement efforts in Southern California became violent.
California is seeking a court order declaring Trump’s use of the National Guard is illegal. Bonta is seeking a restraining order to stop the deployment that began Sunday with about 300 troops arriving in downtown Los Angeles. There is a possibility that more troops will be deployed this week.
“President Trump’s orders call the federal national guard to Los Angeles, over objections from the governor and local law enforcement — and it’s not necessary and counterproductive,” Bonta said. “It is deeply unfair to the members of the National Guard who protect our state every day, prepare and respond to emergencies, train them to ensure that they can fight the wars of our nation if they are called.
“Let me be clear: there is no invasion, there is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political purposes.
He generally accused President Trump of trying to create a spectacle rather than acting on “legitimate needs.” The governor said on Sunday he officially requested that the Trump administration retract the illegal deployment of the military in Los Angeles County and return it to his orders.
Even when the National Guard moved, the violence lasted overnight in downtown Los Angeles. Brittany Hope reports NBC4 News at 6am on June 9, 2025.
It appears to be the first time in decades that a state National Guard has been revitalized without demand from the governor. Trump’s order approved the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members over 60 days.
Trump cited legal provisions that allow him to mobilize service members of the federal government if there is “a risk of rebellion or rebellion against the authority of the US government.”
In a post on his social media site Monday, President Trump said Los Angeles would have been “completely wiped out” otherwise. He said Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass should be grateful to him.
Local law enforcement responded to weekend violence, primarily in downtown Los Angeles, which led to dozens of arrests. National Guard members were stationed at federal property in Los Angeles, including a federal detention center in the downtown area.
Riot Act and related laws were used during the civil rights era to protect activists and students separating schools. President Dwight Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to Little Rock, Arkansas, protecting black students who integrated Central High School after the governor of that state revitalised the National Guard and kept students out.
George H.W. Bush responded to the riots in 1992 after being acquitted by a white police officer who beat the black driver Rodney King in 1992.
National Guards are deployed for a variety of emergencies, including the Covid pandemic, hurricanes and other natural disasters. However, these deployments generally take place along with the agreements of the governor of the corresponding state.
The legal action shows another rift between states and local governments in the White House. Trump said Monday that his border emperor Tom Homan should arrest newspapers for his immigration treatment and protests.
In a brief remarks to the reporter, Trump said, “If I were Tom, I’d do that. I like Gavin Newsom… he’s a good guy, but he’s grossly incompetent.”
Newsom responded to the threat of arrest on Monday with an X post.
“The US President has just called for the arrest of the sitting governor,” Newsom said. “This is the day I wanted to never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.
The previous and subsequent parts stem from previous comments by Homan that said anyone who interferes with federal immigration enforcement could be arrested. That includes Newsom and La Mayor Karen Bass, Homan said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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