A United States appeals court on Thursday unanimously blocked a lower court ruling that put California Governor Gavin Newsom back in control of National Guard troops that President Donald Trump has deployed to Los Angeles. The appeals court ruled that Trump can keep control of the guardsmen while legal proceedings in the case continue to play out.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Thursday night.
The Context
Newsom and California sued Trump after he deployed the guardsmen to L.A. as part of an effort to crack down on demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which earlier this month raided several L.A. neighborhoods with higher immigrant populations and labor-intensive industries.
The raids sparked widespread protests in L.A. as demonstrators called for ICE to leave the city. The protests have been largely peaceful, though some devolved into violence, with people throwing water bottles, cement, Molotov cocktails and other items at law enforcement officials.
Shortly after the protests began, Trump deployed about 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to the area, drawing immediate blowback from Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Democratic lawmakers across the country.
Trump, for his part, repeatedly compared the demonstrators to insurrectionists and claimed that L.A. would have “burned” down had he not intervened, a charge city officials and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have denied.
What To Know
A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Trump “likely acted within his authority” when he federalized the National Guard in California to quell the demonstrations.
The panel is made up of two Trump appointees and one judge appointed by then-President Joe Biden.
Thursday’s ruling overturned that of U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who issued a temporary restraining order earlier this month that gave control of the National Guard back to Newsom after the governor sued.
“Defendants are temporarily ENJOINED from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles,” Breyer wrote in his June 12 ruling. “Defendants are DIRECTED to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Newsom.”
The appeals court said in its 38-page ruling on Thursday: “Affording appropriate deference to the President’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard.”
The opinion was unsigned and issued on behalf of the entire panel.
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social last week: “I campaigned on, and received a Historic Mandate for, the largest Mass Deportation Program in American History. Polling shows overwhelming Public Support for getting the Illegals out, and that is exactly what we will do. As Commander-in-Chief, I will always protect and defend the Heroes of ICE and Border Patrol, whose work has already resulted in the Most Secure Border in American History. Anyone who assaults or attacks an ICE or Border Agent will do hard time in jail. Those who are here illegally should either self deport using the CBP Home App or, ICE will find you and remove you. Saving America is not negotiable!”
Newsom wrote on X on Thursday evening: “This assertion that the Trump administration isn’t recklessly targeting undocumented immigrants with no criminal records is laughably inaccurate. It’s completely disconnected from their own policies and the continuing militarized raids in Los Angeles and recent arrests in Ventura County. They only care about arresting as many people as possible — regardless of how it hurts families, the economy and entire communities. @RealDonaldTrump stop targeting the hardworking people who are the backbone of our economy.”
What Happens Next
Breyer is set to hear more arguments in the case in San Francisco on Friday, after which he’ll decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction that would restrict Trump’s authority over the roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines who are currently deployed to L.A.
The federal judge will also weigh in on California’s request to prohibit federal troops from accompanying ICE agents on their enforcement operations.
Update 6/19/25, 11:52 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and context.
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