SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration unlawfully deployed National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area during immigration enforcement operations and subsequent protests. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer stated that the administration “willfully” violated federal law by sending the troops in early June.

The ruling comes after California filed a lawsuit, arguing that the deployment of National Guard troops violated laws prohibiting military enforcement of domestic laws. Although Judge Breyer did not order the withdrawal of the remaining 300 troops, he emphasized that they had received improper training and directed the administration to cease using them for law enforcement purposes. The judge's order is set to take effect on September 12.

In response, the White House announced plans to appeal the ruling. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly criticized the decision, stating, "Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction."

The ruling raises concerns about the potential establishment of a national police force under the President's control, as Judge Breyer noted that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have expressed intentions to deploy National Guard troops to other cities, including Oakland and San Francisco.

Breyer's ruling highlighted that the administration failed to coordinate meaningfully with state and local officials and improperly instructed federal law enforcement agencies on how to request assistance. He stated, "These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew that they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority."

The judge ordered the federal government to stop using the troops for various law enforcement activities, including arrests, searches, and crowd control.

The deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles followed significant protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies, which included blocking major freeways and violent confrontations with law enforcement. This marked a notable instance where a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor, escalating tensions surrounding the administration's immigration enforcement efforts.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the ruling, stating, "No president is a king — not even Trump — and no president can trample a state’s power to protect its people."

The Trump administration has previously argued that the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement, does not apply in this case because the troops were protecting federal officers rather than enforcing laws.

As discussions of further National Guard deployments continue, Trump has indicated plans to send troops to other Democratic-led cities, including Chicago and Baltimore. In Chicago, local officials have expressed opposition to any federal mobilization, citing a decrease in crime rates.

Approximately 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were initially deployed to Los Angeles in June to assist federal law enforcement during the protests. Most were withdrawn by the end of July, leaving around 300 troops in the area.

Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, who commanded the troops, testified that he raised concerns about potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, noting that soldiers were instructed on prohibited activities, including crowd control and traffic management.

This ruling could have implications for future National Guard deployments as the Trump administration continues to navigate its law enforcement strategies.