() The Trump administration will appeal a court ruling that blocked the use of the National Guard in California and found it illegal.
On Tuesday, Judge Charles Breyer determined that using the National Guard and active-duty Marines violated the Posse Comitatus Act. This law prevents military involvement in domestic law enforcement without Congressional approval.
Breyer allowed some troops to remain in the city but put significant restrictions on their activities.
The Trump administration argued the deployment was lawful because the troops were protecting federal activity.
Trump mandated the federalization of California’s National Guard despite the disapproval of local officials following protests in Los Angeles, sparked by federal immigration enforcement operations.
The court battle is significant as Trump has said he intends to deploy the National Guard in other Democrat-run cities to fight crime.
He also deployed the National Guard in Washington, D.C., where the federal government’s authority to intervene is greater because the capital isn’t a state.
Trump has expressed intentions to send the National Guard to Chicago, despite opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both of whom have pledged to push back against the move.
On Wednesday, Trump hinted at the possibility of deploying troops to New Orleans instead, mentioning that the administration was contemplating between these two cities.
The president noted that Louisiana’s Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, had asked for military assistance, suggesting that the state, which includes House Speaker Mike Johnson, may be less inclined to legally contest the National Guard deployment.
