Trump allowed to keep National Guard in Los Angeles

Washington, DC

A U.S. federal appeals court has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump to keep National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles. This decision pauses a lower court’s ruling that had declared the deployment illegal and called for the troops to return under California Governor Gavin Newsom’s control.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the ruling on Thursday. The three-judge panel included two Trump-appointed judges and one appointed by President Joe Biden. In their 38-page decision, the judges said the President likely has the authority to federalize the National Guard.

They stressed that the ruling was limited to the facts presented. While the court supported the legality of Trump’s decision, it noted that the courts still have the power to review presidential actions and that such power should be used carefully.

The case stems from Trump’s move to send troops to protect federal immigration officers during recent protests in Los Angeles. Some protests had turned violent, involving vandalism and Molotov cocktails. Trump used a legal statute that lets him take control of the National Guard during unrest or when federal laws can't be enforced.

Governor Newsom challenged the move, saying Trump didn’t follow the legal process, which requires going through the state governor. But the court said that informing California’s adjutant general was likely enough and that governors don’t have veto power over federal control of the Guard.

A hearing on whether to issue a permanent order blocking the deployment is expected soon. The legal fight may continue, but for now, Trump can keep the National Guard in place.