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Los Angeles, June 10, 2025: The state of California has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Department of Defense, alleging that the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in protest-hit Los Angeles without state consultation violates the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in a federal court in San Francisco.
The complaint argues that the U.S. Constitution does not grant the President unilateral authority to deploy military forces within states. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called Trump’s decision “unnecessary, counterproductive, and unlawful.” The state demands that the deployed National Guard and Marines operate under California’s authority rather than Trump’s or the Defense Department’s.
The unrest began on June 6 when police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched operations to detain undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles’ Paramount neighborhood. Local residents resisted fiercely, hurling bricks, bottles, and Molotov cocktails, escalating tensions. In response, Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, further intensifying the situation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom had previously condemned the initial deployment and threatened legal action. He stated that he would withdraw the lawsuit if Trump recalls the troops. In a post on X, Newsom urged Trump, “You have the power to resolve this immediately. Please use it.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly dismissed the lawsuit as Newsom’s attempt to “save face,” criticizing him for prioritizing personal pride over law enforcement safety. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that protests have spread to New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
The lawsuit follows Trump’s January 20 executive order to deport undocumented immigrants, which triggered nationwide ICE operations. California, home to thousands of undocumented immigrants, mostly from Mexico and South America, has become a flashpoint in this ongoing conflict.
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