Trump Administration Illegally Used Troops as "National Police Force" in California

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration unlawfully deployed thousands of military troops in Southern California. The judge's decision accused the president of effectively transforming nearly 5,000 Marines and National Guard soldiers into a "national police force."

The ruling, delivered by Judge Charles R. Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco, followed over two months of a controversial deployment. This deployment was initiated in June due to immigration protests and has since been reduced to approximately 300 National Guard soldiers. The ruling's scope was limited, specifically addressing the situation in California. The administration is anticipated to appeal the decision, and the judge has temporarily suspended the injunction for ten days.

Judge Breyer's assessment was direct in its criticism. He stated that President Trump had overstepped the boundaries of federal laws. These laws generally restrict the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. The judge noted the president's expressed intentions to potentially repeat such actions in other U.S. cities, including locations within California, which necessitated immediate intervention.

The judge determined that the administration had "systematically used armed soldiers (whose identity was often obscured by protective armor) and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles." These actions, according to the judge, contravened laws that have been in effect since the late 1800s.