Latest news with #PosseComitatusActof1878
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Newsom v. Trump judge orders L.A. troop deployment records handed over
The Trump administration must turn over a cache of documents, photos, internal reports and other evidence detailing the activities of the military in Southern California, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, handing a procedural victory to the state in its fight to rein in thousands of troops under the president's command. Ordering 'expedited, limited discovery,' Senior District Judge Charles R. Breyer of the federal court in San Francisco also authorized California lawyers to depose key administration officials, and signaled he might review questions about how long troops remain under federal control. The Department of Justice opposed the move, saying it had 'no opportunity to respond.' The ruling follows a stinging loss for the state in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last Thursday, when an appellate panel struck down Breyer's temporary restraining order that would have returned control of the troops to California leaders. Writing for the court, Judge Mark R. Bennett of Honolulu said the judiciary must broadly defer to the president to decide whether a 'rebellion' was underway and if civilians protesting immigration agents had sufficiently hampered deportations to warrant an assist from the National Guard or the Marines. Bennett wrote that the president has authority to take action under a statute that 'authorizes federalization of the National Guard when 'the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.'' But neither court has yet opined on California's other major claim: that by aiding immigration raids, troops under Trump's command violated the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which forbids soldiers from enforcing civilian laws. Shilpi Agarwal, legal director of the ACLU of Northern California, argued the White House is abusing the post-Civil War law — known in legal jargon as the PCA — by having soldiers support Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. 'There isn't a dispute that what the National Guard is doing right now is prohibited by the PCA — legally it absolutely has to be,' said Agarwal. 'Going out with ICE officers into the community and playing a role in individual ICE raids really feels like what the Posse Comitatus Act was designed to prohibit.' In his June 12 order, Breyer wrote that charge was 'premature,' saying that there was not yet sufficient evidence to weigh whether that law had been broken. The 9th Circuit agreed. 'Although we hold that the President likely has authority to federalize the National Guard, nothing in our decision addresses the nature of the activities in which the federalized National Guard may engage,' Bennett wrote. 'Before the district court, Plaintiffs argued that certain uses of the National Guard would violate the Posse Comitatus Act ... We express no opinion on it. Now, California has permission to compel that evidence from the government, as well as to depose figures including Ernesto Santacruz, Jr., the director of the ICE field office in L.A., and Maj. Gen. Niave F. Knell, who heads operations for the Army department in charge of 'homeland defense.' With few exceptions, such evidence would immediately become public, another win for Californians, Agarwal said. 'As the facts are further developed in this case, i think it will be come more abundantly clear to everyone how little this invocation of the National Guard was based on,' she said. In its Monday briefing, the Trump administration argued that troops were 'merely performing a protective function' not enforcing the law. 'Nothing in the preliminary injunction record plausibly supports a claim that the Guard and Marines are engaged in execution of federal laws rather than efforts to protect the personnel and property used in the execution of federal laws,' the Justice Department's motion said. The federal government also claimed even if troops were enforcing the law, that would not violate the Posse Comitatus Act — and if it did, the Northern District of California would have only limited authority to rule on it. 'Given the Ninth Circuit's finding, it would be illogical to hold that, although the President can call up the National Guard when he is unable 'with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States,' the Guard, once federalized, is forbidden from 'execut[ing] the laws,'' the motion said. For Agarwal and other civil liberties experts, the next few weeks will be crucial. 'There's this atmospheric Rubicon we have crossed when we say based on vandalism and people throwing things at cars, that can be justification for military roaming our streets,' the lawyer said. 'There was more unrest when the Lakers won the Championship.'
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Marines Deployed in LA Amid ICE Protest Unrest, Tensions Rise
NEW YORK: Roughly 200 US Marines took up position in Los Angeles on Friday to protect federal property and personnel after protests in the city against immigration raids. The deployment of the Marine Corps -- typically deployed abroad as a rapid strike force -- is highly unusual for domestic crowd-control scenarios inside the United States. Why were they called? Protests began last week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids in and around Los Angeles. The gatherings were mostly peaceful but there were also incidents of vandalism and aggression towards ICE agents and local police. Some demonstrators breached curfews as they rallied by the downtown Federal Building and the nearby Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison holding immigrants. President Donald Trump first took the controversial step of "federalizing" thousands of California National Guard troops -- sending them to the area against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Shortly after, on Monday, the Trump administration announced that about 700 active-duty Marines would also be sent to Los Angeles. What will they do? US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which has responsibility over US armed forces operating in North America, said the Marines will protect federal personnel and property. Major General Scott Sherman, who is leading the Los Angeles mission, said two companies of Marines were taking up position at the Wilshire Federal Building. Sherman said the Marines would "hold off crowds" as needed. Military members cannot arrest protesters as that is a law enforcement activity. But NORTHCOM said Marines could "temporarily detain an individual to stop an assault of, to prevent harm to, or to prevent interference with federal personnel performing their duties." Could they get more power? The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prevents the use of US federal troops such as Marines for domestic law enforcement activities. But that would change if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act, which lets the president deploy federal troops to suppress a violent rebellion on US soil. It was last used during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 following the acquittal of police officers involved in the beating of motorist Rodney King. Under the Insurrection Act, federal troops have the power to conduct searches and arrest people suspected of breaking the law. Trump has notably not ruled out using the act. "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it," he said this week. "We'll see."
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
What will the US Marines do in Los Angeles?
NEW YORK: Roughly 200 US Marines took up position in Los Angeles on Friday to protect federal property and personnel after protests in the city against immigration raids. The deployment of the Marine Corps -- typically deployed abroad as a rapid strike force -- is highly unusual for domestic crowd-control scenarios inside the United States. Why were they called? Protests began last week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids in and around Los Angeles. The gatherings were mostly peaceful but there were also incidents of vandalism and aggression towards ICE agents and local police. Some demonstrators breached curfews as they rallied by the downtown Federal Building and the nearby Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison holding immigrants. President Donald Trump first took the controversial step of "federalizing" thousands of California National Guard troops -- sending them to the area against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Shortly after, on Monday, the Trump administration announced that about 700 active-duty Marines would also be sent to Los Angeles. What will they do? US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which has responsibility over US armed forces operating in North America, said the Marines will protect federal personnel and property. Major General Scott Sherman, who is leading the Los Angeles mission, said two companies of Marines were taking up position at the Wilshire Federal Building. Sherman said the Marines would "hold off crowds" as needed. Military members cannot arrest protesters as that is a law enforcement activity. But NORTHCOM said Marines could "temporarily detain an individual to stop an assault of, to prevent harm to, or to prevent interference with federal personnel performing their duties." Could they get more power? The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prevents the use of US federal troops such as Marines for domestic law enforcement activities. But that would change if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act, which lets the president deploy federal troops to suppress a violent rebellion on US soil. It was last used during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 following the acquittal of police officers involved in the beating of motorist Rodney King. Under the Insurrection Act, federal troops have the power to conduct searches and arrest people suspected of breaking the law. Trump has notably not ruled out using the act. "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it," he said this week. "We'll see."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What will the US Marines do in Los Angeles?
Roughly 200 US Marines took up position in Los Angeles on Friday to protect federal property and personnel after protests in the city against immigration raids. The deployment of the Marine Corps -- typically deployed abroad as a rapid strike force -- is highly unusual for domestic crowd-control scenarios inside the United States. - Why were they called? - Protests began last week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted raids in and around Los Angeles. The gatherings were mostly peaceful but there were also incidents of vandalism and aggression towards ICE agents and local police. Some demonstrators breached curfews as they rallied by the downtown Federal Building and the nearby Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison holding immigrants. President Donald Trump first took the controversial step of "federalizing" thousands of California National Guard troops -- sending them to the area against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Shortly after, on Monday, the Trump administration announced that about 700 active-duty Marines would also be sent to Los Angeles. - What will they do? - US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which has responsibility over US armed forces operating in North America, said the Marines will protect federal personnel and property. Major General Scott Sherman, who is leading the Los Angeles mission, said two companies of Marines were taking up position at the Wilshire Federal Building. Sherman said the Marines would "hold off crowds" as needed. Military members cannot arrest protesters as that is a law enforcement activity. But NORTHCOM said Marines could "temporarily detain an individual to stop an assault of, to prevent harm to, or to prevent interference with federal personnel performing their duties." - Could they get more power? - The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prevents the use of US federal troops such as Marines for domestic law enforcement activities. But that would change if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act, which lets the president deploy federal troops to suppress a violent rebellion on US soil. It was last used during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 following the acquittal of police officers involved in the beating of motorist Rodney King. Under the Insurrection Act, federal troops have the power to conduct searches and arrest people suspected of breaking the law. Trump has notably not ruled out using the act. "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it," he said this week. "We'll see." cf/bjt/acb
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds of Marines Deployed to Los Angeles Amid Protests
Members of the California National Guard stand watch outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. Credit - Ronaldo Schemidt —Anadolu via Getty Images Around 700 Marines are deploying to the Los Angeles area to protect federal buildings and law enforcement in the wake of protests over the Trump Administration's immigration raids. The troops will join the thousands of National Guard members who were already activated by President Donald Trump over the weekend without the consent of California's governor Gavin Newsom. 'If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now, much like 25,000 houses burned to the ground in L.A. due to an incompetent Governor and Mayor,' Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday morning, referring to the January wildfires that were caused by dry conditions and strong winds. Read more: Inside Donald Trump's Mass-Deportation Operation The deployment of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines—based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.—marks the first time in over three decades that Marines have been mobilized inside the United States to respond to civil unrest. Their presence represents a striking escalation of federal involvement in what began as local protests over immigration enforcement. Asked if he would invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 1792 statute allowing the president to use the military to suppress domestic unrest, Trump told reporters Tuesday that 'if there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see. But I can tell you, last night was terrible. The night before that was terrible.' Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act. Instead, he is relying on a broader presidential authority to protect federal property. Legal experts say that distinction may ultimately determine whether the deployments are deemed lawful. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement without specific legal authorization—a principle the Trump Administration insists it is not violating, since the Marines will not be arresting or directly interacting with protesters. 'There were certain areas of Los Angeles' on Monday night that 'you could have called it an insurrection,' Trump said. 'It was terrible.' The estimated cost of deploying the National Guard and the Marines to the Los Angeles area is $134 million, according to Bryn MacDonnell, a top Pentagon official testifying before the House on Tuesday. While the Marines are expected to avoid direct engagement with demonstrators, the symbolism of active-duty troops patrolling the streets of Los Angeles has reignited deep political tensions and legal debates over the limits of federal power. The Marines are tasked with protecting federal facilities and personnel, according to a statement from U.S. Northern Command, and will operate under Task Force 51—a contingency unit created to coordinate military support for domestic emergencies. Read more: Can the President Activate a State's National Guard? "We believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations, and we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties," U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a hearing in Congress on Tuesday when asked about the deployment of Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Newsom, who has publicly condemned the federal response as both unlawful and inflammatory, described the Marine deployment as 'unprecedented' and 'completely unwarranted.' 'They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President,' Newsom said on X. His office filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block the deployment, arguing that Trump had 'trampled' the state's sovereignty by bypassing both the governor and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The protests began Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carried out coordinated raids across Los Angeles, detaining dozens of workers at warehouses and other worksites. The arrests sparked immediate backlash, with demonstrators converging outside federal buildings, blocking freeways, and in some cases clashing with police. Read more: Why Waymo's Self-Driving Cars Became a Target of Protesters in Los Angeles By Sunday, as images of burning self-driving cars and confrontations near the downtown federal detention center spread across social media, Trump issued a presidential order deploying 2,000 National Guard troops. A second order followed Monday night, calling for an additional 2,000 troops. Pentagon officials confirmed that about 1,700 Guard members were already active in the greater Los Angeles area by late Monday, and the Marines would be joining them in a 'support' capacity. The deployments have touched a raw nerve in California, where Democratic leaders say Trump is overstepping his constitutional authority in pursuit of political spectacle. The governor's office said that only a fraction of the initially deployed Guard members had been given orders, and many remained inside federal facilities awaiting direction. 'This isn't about public safety,' Newsom said on X. 'It's about stroking a dangerous President's ego.' Mayor Bass echoed those sentiments, calling the influx of troops 'a deliberate attempt to create disorder and chaos in our city.' She urged the federal government to halt the raids and allow local authorities to manage the situation. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell also expressed frustration with the federal operation, warning that the sudden arrival of troops presented 'significant logistical and operational challenges.' In a statement, McDonnell emphasized the need for clear communication between agencies, noting that the LAPD had successfully handled large-scale protests in the past. Sheheryar Kaoosji, the executive director at Warehouse Workers Resource Center, a nonprofit that seeks to improve working conditions in the warehouse industry, warns that both the immigration raids and the Administration's response to the protests could deal a blow to businesses in the area—and the broader economy. 'Between the actual ICE activity and then the escalation by the Administration to suppress protest, it's not just affecting people going to work, but there's not gonna be tourism in L.A.,' he says. 'It's going to kill the economy of not just California but the country.' The federal government has framed the move as a necessary precaution amid what it says are credible threats to federal personnel and infrastructure, claiming the military's presence was meant to deter violence and protect immigration officers working in increasingly volatile conditions. The last time Marines were deployed to the streets of Los Angeles was in 1992, following days of rioting after the acquittal of officers in the beating of Rodney King. In that case, President George H.W. Bush acted at the request of then-Gov. Pete Wilson and invoked the Insurrection Act. Read more: The Most Memorable Photos of Protests Erupting in Los Angeles Over Immigration Raids Despite the dramatic federal presence, most of Monday's demonstrations remained peaceful. Thousands gathered at City Hall for a union-led rally demanding an end to immigration raids. Outside the federal detention center, protesters held hands and chanted, 'Free them all!' and 'National Guard, go away.' Still, by evening, confrontations had resumed. Police began using tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds near the Little Tokyo neighborhood, where at least a dozen people were detained. In nearby Paramount, where more arrests had occurred during earlier raids, family members of detainees held a press conference demanding information about their loved ones. Additional protests against immigration raids have continued in several other cities, including San Francisco and Dallas. Andrew Chow contributed reporting. Write to Nik Popli at
