A federal judge turned down California Governor Gavin Newsom’s urgent request to stop National Guard and Marine troops in Los Angeles from taking part in immigration enforcement operations.
Newsom argued that the Trump administration planned to use these troops in raids, saying this move was illegal and would cause serious, lasting harm to the city and state. His request, submitted to a California federal court, asked for a temporary order to block Trump’s military from being involved in such activities.
The state’s legal filing claimed the administration intended to send federalized National Guard troops and Marines to work with immigration enforcement officers in raids across Los Angeles. According to the filing, the troops’ jobs would include setting up security around raid locations and keeping paths clear for immigration officers, which could lead to direct contact with civilians and even their detention. Newsom argued this broke long-standing legal limits on using the military for domestic law enforcement.
According to The Independent, the Justice Department quickly pushed back against Newsom’s claims, calling them “legally meritless.” They said the requested restraining order was unheard of and risky, possibly endangering Department of Homeland Security workers and disrupting federal operations. The administration insisted the National Guard and Marines were only doing their job of protecting federal law enforcement, buildings, and staff during the ongoing protests in Los Angeles.
Judge sides with Trump against Newsom
At first, the judge did not approve Newsom’s request for an immediate order, instead setting a hearing for the next day to let the administration respond. While the judge did not reject Newsom’s request outright at that early stage, the delay meant the planned operations could potentially move forward without legal restrictions in the short term.
The White House and the Department of Homeland Security released separate statements explaining the troops’ role. The White House said the deployment was needed to safeguard federal property and personnel, suggesting Governor Newsom had allowed violent riots and attacks on law enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security stated the military was there to protect ICE officers and that troops could briefly detain rioters who attacked these officers until law enforcement could arrest them.
Care to talk about this?
— SassyLass (@Redd986) June 10, 2025
As of 02:29 PM PDT on June 10, 2025, a federal judge ruled in favor of Trump, denying Newsom's request to block the deployment of National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles, allowing the federal troops to remain amid protests.
This legal challenge happened as tensions between Governor Newsom and President Trump were rising. Newsom had publicly warned about the administration’s supposed plans to put the troops into action, calling it a “red line” being crossed. President Trump, in response, said publicly he was thinking about using the Insurrection Act, which would give the military more power to operate within the U.S. This back-and-forth shows how deeply divided the two sides are politically, with Newsom strongly opposing the Trump administration’s moves.
The legal fight also includes another lawsuit filed by California against the administration for calling up the state’s National Guard without the governor’s approval. This points to a larger pattern of clashes between state and federal officials over how to handle the situation in Los Angeles. Reports indicate the White House had thought about using other federal agencies, like those that deal with drug and gun crimes, for immigration operations as part of a wider plan to speed up deportations.
