Photo: BENJAMIN HANSON / AFP / Getty Images
Another day, another judicial ruling against the Trump agenda.
A federal judge appointed by former President Bill Clinton ruled that President Trump acted unlawfully when he federalized the National Guard and deployed a handful of Marines to address anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement riots and protests in California.
Judge Charles Breyer’s opinion followed remarks he made during a three-day trial last month when he questioned if presidents have any limits on when they can use the military for domestic purposes.
Trump federalized about 4,000 National Guard members in June to support federal authorities in California as they carried out immigration raids, despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's vehement objections.
The case could still have nationwide implications as Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deploy National Guard members in Washington, D.C., and threaten to do so in other blue cities to address street crime. The Trump administration is likely to appeal Breyer’s decision, which could result in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and even the Supreme Court weighing in on the administration's unconventional use of the National Guard.