Description: Federal Judge in California has ruled that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and the Marines in LA earlier this year was illegal and violated the US Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the power of the federal government to use military forces for domestic issues. Judge Charles Breyer said the ruling was put on hold until 12 Sep, as the Trump administration was expected to contest and appeal the decision citing reasons which previously justified the deployment of military troops. The ruling further blocked the troops from executing operations such as arrests, apprehensions, searches, seizures and security patrol as well as evidence collection, riot control, interrogation or the recruitment of informants. White House deputy Press Secretary, Anna Kelly, has stated that the Court’s ruling was aimed at crippling Trump’s decision to protect law abiding citizens from the violence and destruction. Trump used military troops to enforce his anti – immigration policies across LA and clashed with Governor Gavin Newsom over the legality of the deployment.
Impact: Trump’s administration is experiencing severe legal scrutiny, as most of his decisions both on the domestic and foreign front are being challenged by the US legal system. The ruling from the Federal Court in California would dampen Trump’s domestic policy agenda and embolden other local government representatives to legally contest controversial decisions such as implementing hybrid security measures and cohesion between local law enforcement services and the military. Chicago has been announced as the next city where the National Guard would be deployed, however, with growing legal pressure and stern opposition from the Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago’s Mayor, Brandon Johnson, tensions are expected to escalate and cause further domestic instability. If Trump proceeds with the deployment despite the legal constraints, civil protests alike the LA demonstrations are expected to erupt countrywide, as the clash between the federal and local government continues to surge.