A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops during immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles violated the law.

Judge Charles Breyer, based in San Francisco, issued the ruling on Tuesday, concluding that the Trump administration crossed legal boundaries when it ordered armed soldiers to support federal immigration raids in Southern California. The judge stopped short of requiring the withdrawal of troops still in place.

According to Breyer, evidence presented at trial showed that troops—often wearing protective gear that concealed their identities and using military vehicles—were tasked with setting up perimeters, blocking traffic, controlling crowds, and projecting military force in Los Angeles neighborhoods. He determined these actions were a clear violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of military forces to carry out domestic law enforcement.

The White House quickly fired back. Spokesperson Anna Kelly criticized the ruling as judicial overreach, saying:
“Once again, a rogue judge is trying to strip the Commander-in-Chief of his authority to protect American cities. President Trump saved Los Angeles from radical leftists spreading chaos, and no far-left court will stop him from keeping Americans safe.”

Trump had federalized members of the California National Guard and deployed them to Los Angeles despite strong objections from Gov. Gavin Newsom and city officials. He invoked federal law that allows presidents to call up the Guard in cases of invasion, rebellion, or when normal law enforcement is unable to execute U.S. laws.

California sued the administration, arguing that the deployment amounted to illegal military enforcement on U.S. soil. Federal attorneys countered that the Posse Comitatus Act did not apply, insisting the Guard was merely protecting federal officers and property—not enforcing laws.

Breyer strongly rejected that argument, accusing the administration of knowingly breaking the law. He wrote that officials ignored coordination with state and local leaders, instructed federal agents on how to phrase requests for troops, and ordered soldiers to perform duties explicitly barred by their training guidelines.

“These actions demonstrate that Defendants knew they were ordering troops to execute domestic law beyond their usual authority,” Breyer stated in his decision.

The ruling comes as Trump has floated sending National Guard units into other Democratic-led cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, and New York. He has already deployed the Guard in Washington, D.C., where the president has direct control, and pushed the limits of domestic military involvement through measures like militarized security zones at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gov. Newsom celebrated the decision, posting on X in capital letters: “DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree—his militarization of our streets and use of the military against U.S. citizens is ILLEGAL.”

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.