A Judge Steps In: California Guardsmen Return Home

A federal judge in California has put a stop to the Trump administration's plans to keep California National Guard troops under federal control. Judge Charles Breyer ruled that the administration had no valid reason to keep these troops, especially in Los Angeles. This is not the first time the judge has ruled against the administration's attempts to federalize the California National Guard. The judge's decision came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued orders in August and October to keep about 300 California National Guard troops under federal control. These troops were supposed to protect federal immigration agents and other government entities. The October order even sent 200 of these troops to Oregon, while the remaining 100 were spread out in Los Angeles. Judge Breyer was not happy with the administration's actions. He criticized them for keeping control of the troops without any evidence of a need. He even accused the administration of trying to create a national police force using state troops. The judge's order is currently on hold until Monday, giving the Justice Department time to appeal. California Attorney General Rob Bonta was happy with the judge's decision. He said it was a good day for democracy and the rule of law. He also said that the Trump administration had been playing political games with the National Guard troops. The Trump administration first tried to federalize the California National Guard in June. They used a law called Title 10, which allows the president to call state Guard members into federal service under certain conditions. But California's governor, Gavin Newsom, sued to block this move, and the judge initially agreed with him. However, a higher court temporarily lifted the judge's order, allowing the federalization to continue. Since then, most of the federalized troops have been released, but about 300 were still under federal control. California officials argued that there was no need to keep these troops under federal control, especially since the protests in June had calmed down. The Trump administration, on the other hand, argued that the court had no right to review the president's federalization orders. But the judge disagreed, saying that the administration's argument would give the president too much power over state troops. The judge also pointed out that the administration's actions showed that there was no pressing need for the troops in Los Angeles. By sending 200 of the 300 troops to Oregon, the administration had shown that the situation in Los Angeles was not as urgent as they claimed. This is not the only time the Trump administration has tried to federalize state National Guards. They have also tried to do this in Oregon and Illinois, but faced legal challenges in both states. In Oregon, a federal judge permanently blocked the administration from deploying the state's National Guard to Portland. In Illinois, a federal appeals court blocked the deployment but allowed the troops to remain under federal control. The Supreme Court is now deciding whether to allow their deployment.