California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a statement following the conclusion of a three-day trial regarding California’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The lawsuit challenges the use of federalized California National Guard troops and Marines for civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles.
“Before the trial began, I issued a statement expressing confidence that the evidence would show that the Trump Administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act. Now that the trial has ended, I remain confident. Our legal team did a great job,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We asked the court to grant a permanent injunction to stop the Administration from using the military for domestic law enforcement and maintaining a standing army in Southern California. We made a compelling case — backed by facts and specifics — and we look forward to getting a decision in the near future.”
The Posse Comitatus Act generally bars military personnel from performing civilian law enforcement duties. During the trial, state officials argued that orders issued by the Trump Administration to deploy federalized National Guard members and Marines in Los Angeles violated this act in several ways. According to California’s presentation, military personnel were used directly for law enforcement tasks such as providing armed perimeter support, setting up blockades, apprehending and detaining civilians, and participating in immigration raids after mobilization orders were given in June. The state also claimed that these actions amounted to pervasive involvement of military forces in civilian policing activities.
Attorney General Bonta stated his commitment to ensuring accountability for what he described as an overreach of authority by President Trump’s administration and infringement on constitutional rights of Californians. In addition to this lawsuit, Bonta led a coalition of states supporting efforts to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from conducting what they argue are unconstitutional stops during immigration sweeps in Los Angeles.
