Federal Judges Rule President Acted Within Constitutional Powers Amid Immigration Protest Crackdown
In a landmark decision on Thursday, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that former President Donald Trump acted within his constitutional authority by deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, despite strong opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel overturned a lower court decision that had temporarily restored control of the California National Guard to Newsom. The court affirmed Trump’s right to federalize 4,000 National Guard members for a 60-day mission to protect federal property and personnel amid protests sparked by aggressive federal immigration sweeps.
“Affording appropriate deference to the President’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard,” the panel wrote in its 38-page opinion.
Trump hailed the verdict on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “BIG WIN,” and reaffirmed his stance on federal intervention: “All over the United States, if our Cities and our people need protection, we are the ones to give it to them.”
The state of California had argued the deployment was unlawful because it bypassed the governor’s authority. But the appellate court dismissed that claim, stating that while the president did not follow traditional protocol through the governor, this did not invalidate his power to call up the National Guard.
However, the panel pushed back against the Trump administration’s assertion that the president’s actions were immune from judicial oversight. “The President is not completely insulated from review,” the ruling clarified.
Governor Newsom reacted sharply to the decision, accusing Trump of authoritarian overreach.
“Trump is not a king and not above the law,” Newsom said on X (formerly Twitter). “We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked.”
He added in a follow-up post, “The fight doesn’t end here. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”
The ruling sets the stage for further legal battles. California can now seek a rehearing or escalate the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The decision comes amid growing unrest in Los Angeles, which has been at the center of nationwide controversy over intensified immigration raids. While protests have largely remained peaceful, sporadic incidents of looting, vandalism, and arson have drawn national attention. Trump had previously deployed 700 U.S. Marines to the city, claiming it was “burning” and that local officials had lost control — assertions widely disputed by city leaders.
This marks the first time since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard over the objections of a state governor.
According to The New York Times, two of the appellate judges on the panel were appointed by Trump, and the third by President Joe Biden — a detail likely to intensify political debate over the ruling.
As immigration enforcement actions continue and political tensions rise, all eyes are now on the potential next steps in what could become a defining constitutional battle over federal and state powers.
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