An appeals court is allowing President Donald Trump to maintain control of California’s National Guard indefinitely to quell anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles.
A federal appeals court ruled unanimously Thursday to block California Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) attempt to regain control of the California National Guard from Trump amid riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles.
The Ninth Circuit of Appeals paused an order from lower court judge Charles Breyer granting Newsom’s applications for a temporary restraining order. Breyer, a Clinton appointee, is the brother of retired liberal Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer.
“BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President’s core power to call in the National Guard! The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Newsom’s lawsuit accused Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of violating the Tenth Amendment by federalizing the California National Guard and calling in several thousand troops earlier this month to help contain anti-ICE rioting in Los Angeles earlier this month.
The riots broke out on June 6 when protesters attempted to obstruct ICE operations in the area and continued for several days. In addition to obstructing and assaulting law enforcement, rioters damaged property, committed acts of vandalism, blocked traffic, and burned self driving Waymo vehicles.
The mob overwhelmed local law enforcement and prompted Trump and Hegseth to quickly mobilize the National Guard to calm the storm. Rioters could be seen holding up Mexican flags to protest the Trump administration’s effort to deport illegal immigrants back to Mexico and other neighboring countries.
Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) strongly opposed Trump’s decision to bring in the National Guard and accused him of inflaming the rioters, even though local law enforcement could not contain them. The California Democrats claimed Trump was acting in an authoritarian manner in his attempt to suppress the anti-ICE riots. When looting got out of control in downtown Los Angeles, Bass instituted a curfew for several days to stop people from taking advantage of the chaos.
“This fight doesn’t end here,” Newsom said on X. He promised to continue fighting Trump’s use of the National Guard and said Trump is not above the law.
House Republicans are now investigating Newsom and Bass’s handling of the riots because of their lax approach to the situation.
Trump initially activated 2,000 National Guard troops and later called in 2,000 more to protect ICE and control the demonstrators. Hegseth also called in 700 Marines to provide additional support for ICE and prevent the rioting from getting out of hand.