LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� An appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids.
The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The deployment was the first by a president of a state National Guard without the governor鈥檚 permission since 1965.
In its decision, a on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalizing control of the guard.
It said that while presidents don't have unfettered power to seize control of a state's guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters.
鈥淭he undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters 鈥榩inned down鈥� several federal officers and threw 鈥榗oncrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects鈥� at the officers. Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van鈥檚 windows," . "The federal government鈥檚 interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.鈥�
It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify the governor of California before federalizing the National Guard as required by law, Newsom had no power to veto the president鈥檚 order.
Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a 鈥淏IG WIN.鈥�
He wrote that 鈥渁ll over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.鈥�
Newsom issued a statement that expressed disappointment that the court is allowing Trump to retain control of the Guard. But he also welcomed one aspect of the decision.
鈥淭he court rightly rejected Trump鈥檚 claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court," Newsom said. "The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump鈥檚 authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.鈥�
The court case could have wider implications on the president鈥檚 power to deploy soldiers within the United States after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritize deportations from other Democratic-run cities.
Trump, a Republican, argued that the troops were necessary to restore order. Newsom, a Democrat, said the move inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The protests have to be winding down.
Two judges on the appeals panel were appointed by Trump during his first term. During , all three judges suggested that presidents have wide latitude under the federal law at issue and that courts should be reluctant to step in.
The case started when Newsom sued to block Trump鈥檚 command, and he won an early victory from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco.
Breyer found that Trump had overstepped his legal authority, which he said only allows presidents can take control during times of 鈥渞ebellion or danger of a rebellion.鈥�
鈥淭he protests in Los Angeles fall far short of 鈥榬ebellion,鈥欌�� wrote Breyer, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton and is brother to retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
The Trump administration, though, argued that courts can鈥檛 second guess the president鈥檚 decisions and quickly secured a from the appeals court.
The ruling means control of the California National Guard will stay in federal hands as the lawsuit continues to unfold.
The Associated Press
