A US appeals court allowed president Donald Trump to temporarily maintain the National Guard deployed in Los Angeles, moments after a federal judge had ordered him to return control of the troops to California governor Gavin Newsom.
The decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals paused a lower court ruling blocking the mobilisation of the National Guard by Trump.
Judge Charles R Breyer had ruled on Thursday that Trump’s actions were “illegal” and “he must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith".
The appeals court paused Mr Breyer’s ruling.
California senator Alex Padillawas forcibly removed from a press conference being held by homeland security secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday when he attempted to question her on the Trump administration’s response to unrest in LA.
Some 700 Marines deployed to the city were expected to support up to 4,000 National Guard troops to protect ICE agents conducting immigration raids from Friday.
This plan had been in limbo after Trump was ordered to return the troops to Newsom.
Meanwhile, protests have flared up in at least 37 cities since last Friday, The Independent found.
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Key Points
- Judge orders Trump to return National Guard troops to Newsom
- Democratic Senator Alex Padilla forcibly removed after interrupting Kristi Noem’s press conference
- Newsom questions Trump’s mental state as he blasts president’s response to LA protests
- Trump says LA 'safe and sound' after military action
- Hegseth threatens troop deployment nationwide 'if necessary'
- Why are anti-ICE protests spreading across the US?
- IN FOCUS: Is Trump’s America in the middle of a coup?
Court allows Trump to keep National Guard deployed in LA
06:00
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Vishwam Sankaran
A US appeals court has allowed president Donald Trump to keep National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles amid the protests.
The decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily pauses a lower court ruling on Thursday, which blocked the mobilisation of the Guard by Mr Trump.
Thursday's ruling by US District Judge Charles Breyer had declared Trump's deployment of the Guard unlawful and ordered it to be returned to the control of California governor Gavin Newsom.
But Mr Breyer's order was paused after a short time.
A panel of judges is expected to hold a hearing on Tuesday to consider Mr Breyer's order.
Morale among California National Guard and Marines deployed in LA is underwater, report claims
06:00
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Rachel Dobkin
The 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 US Marines sent to Los Angeles in response to the ongoing anti-immigration raid protests are reportedly suffering from low morale, according to members of the veterans community, amid allegations of a chaotic initial deployment and widespread concerns of the military being drafted into domestic law enforcement.
“Among all that I spoke with, the feeling was that the Marines are being used as political pawns, and it strains the perception that Marines are apolitical,” Marine Corps veteran Janessa Goldbeck, who runs the Vet Voice Foundation, told The Guardian. “Some were concerned that the Marines were being set up for failure. The overall perception was that the situation was nowhere at the level where Marines were necessary.”
“The sentiment across the board right now is that deploying military force against our own communities isn’t the kind of national security we signed up for,” added Sarah Streyder of the Secure Families Initiative in an interview with the outlet.
Josh Marcus reports.
Hundreds of protesters assembled outside of Portland ICE detention center
05:40
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Rachel Dobkin
At least 400 protesters assembled outside of a Portland ICE detention center Thursday night, The New York Times reported.
The crowd chanted, “Say it loud and say it clear, immigrants are welcome here!”
Ramming cars and raiding churches: The ways ICE is becoming more aggressive in arresting migrants
05:20
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Rachel Dobkin
Ramming cars, sledgehammering windows and raiding churches in pursuit of migrants appears to be the new norm for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Trump’s America.
Democratic lawmakers have questioned “the appropriateness, proportionality, and execution of ICE tactics,” while immigration attorneys say the agency’s approach has escalated after a series of high-profile incidents over recent weeks.
“When ICE was first active in 2003, it was supposed to protect Americans and people living within the United States,” immigration attorney Michael Cataliotti told The Independent. “Not any more. These days, ICE is a tool being used to scare, arrest, detain, and fill up the prison systems under the guise of ‘Protecting America.’”
Cataliotti said that under previous administrations, ICE had more “humanity” compared to now. “This is astonishingly different,” the New York-based attorney said. “It's a tremendous violation of norms, like going into churches, which were always considered off-limits, or, simply, assault and battery and reckless endangerment, when they're driving cars into folks.”
Rhian Lubin reports.
Newsom slams Trump with Marvel movie reference
05:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump, telling reporters Thursday night, “He creates a problem and then he tries to be a hero in his own Marvel movie.”
Newsom’s comments were in response to a reporter’s question about Trump admitting on Truth Social Thursday his “aggressive” immigration policy is deporting “very good, long time” farmers and that America “must protect our farmers.”
This is what Donald Trump does.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 13, 2025
He creates a problem — and then he tries to be a hero in his own Marvel movie.
I would call it pathetic if it wasn’t so dangerous. pic.twitter.com/1eBvEcl2wN
Here is the president’s full Truth Social post:
“Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace. In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs. This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!”
Curfew on downtown Los Angeles is in effect for the third night
04:42
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Rachel Dobkin
Starting 8 p.m. Pacific/11 p.m. Eastern, a curfew was enforced on Los Angeles for the third night.
Officials first announced the curfew Tuesday after anti-ICE protests in the city got criminal after dark.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday the curfew would be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time “to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting.”
She later said the curfew would remain in effect indefinitely.
According to New York Times reporter Orlando Mayorquin reporting from Los Angeles, local police were arresting the few protesters that remained after the curfew.
Appeals court pauses judge ruling for Trump to return National Guard troops to Newsom
04:35
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Rachel Dobkin
An appeals court has paused a judge’s ruling for President Donald Trump to return the thousands of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles in response to anti-ICE raids back to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Judge Charles R. Breyer had ruled Thursday night that Trump’s actions were “illegal,” and “he must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.”
The Trump administration appealed Breyer’s ruling, which led to the pause.
In pictures: Anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles today
04:20
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Rachel Dobkin
Protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration raids continued in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Trump team sends removal notices to more than half a million migrants allowed into the country under Biden program
04:00
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Rachel Dobkin
The Department of Homeland Security started handing out termination notices to thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela this week after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a decision that allows the Trump administration to end a Biden-era humanitarian parole program.
Notices reviewed by CNN warned the migrants that if they do not leave voluntarily, they could face enforcement measures including detention and removal, “without an opportunity to make personal arrangements and return to your country in an orderly manner.”
The humanitarian parole program, introduced by the Biden administration, granted eligible migrants permission to enter the United States on a two-year stay. Approximately 530,000 citizens from the four countries were allowed in under the program.
The Trump administration has criticized the program, claiming that it allowed “poorly vetted” migrants into the country. But the program does require applicants to pass background checks and secure a financial sponsor to ensure they would not become a public burden.
Andrea Cavallier reports.
Trump admin is appealing order to return control of National Guard to Newsom
03:38
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Rachel Dobkin
The Trump administration is appealing a federal judge’s order that the president return control of the National Guard to California Governor Gavin Newsom, according to a legal brief filed Thursday night obtained by The New York Times.
Gavin Newsom responds to court victory over National Guard: 'Today, the people won'
03:32
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Rachel Dobkin
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Thursday night address that a judge’s order for President Donald Trump to return control of the state’s National Guard proves the president “is not above or beyond constitutional constraints.”
He shared a clip of his address on X, writing, “The Constitution sets forth limits, and that includes the President of the United States. Today, the people won.”
The Constitution sets forth limits, and that includes the President of the United States.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 13, 2025
Today, the people won. pic.twitter.com/iSCDvmWJup
In an unprecedented move, Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in Los Angeles in response to the anti-ICE protests in the city.
Trump ordered to return control of National Guard troops to Gavin Newsom after ‘illegal’ order over LA protests
03:25
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Rachel Dobkin
Guard troops it deployed to the Los Angeles protests back to state officials, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.
The decision sets up a potential standoff over the fate of the roughly 4,000 guardsmen who the White House has tapped to respond to the ongoing unrest.
“[President Trump]’s actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Judge Charles R. Breyer wrote in a stunning Thursday evening ruling, referring to the amendment preserving certain powers of the states from federal interference. “He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.”
The court’s order, which the Trump administration immediately appealed, is set to take effect at noon on Friday.
Josh Marcus reports.
Arnold Schwarzenegger called for bipartisan cooperation for immigration reform: 'If there’s a will there’s a way'
03:20
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Rachel Dobkin
Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has weighed in on the recent Los Angeles immigration protests that have since sparked similar movements across the nation.
Speaking to Access Hollywood at Wednesday’s season two premiere of his Netflix action series FUBAR, the former Republican politician, 77, was asked his thoughts on the “current unrest happening in Los Angeles.”
“I hope that the locals and the state and the federal government work together,” Schwarzenegger said, calling on bipartisan cooperation to bring immigration reform.
“That the democrats and the republicans work together to solve this issue because I think we need immigration reform, and I think they can do it,” he added. “If there’s a will there’s a way. I just encourage them to work this out.”
Inga Parkel reports.
DHS calls LA mayor's claims about ICE showing up in homeless shelters 'blatantly false'
03:00
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Rachel Dobkin
The Homeland Security Department called Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ claims about immigration agents showing up in homeless shelters “blatantly false.”
During a press conference Thursday, Bass claimed that ICE officials “entered our city and provoked the city by chasing people through Home Depots and car washes and showing up at schools and today, showing up at emergency rooms and homeless shelters.”
DHS slammed Bass in an X post later Thursday, saying her rhetoric “demonizes the brave men and women of law enforcement.”
This is blatantly FALSE. @ICEgov is NOT in homeless shelters, ERs and schools.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 13, 2025
This rhetoric from @MayorOfLA and California politicians demonizes the brave men and women of law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/eodKsTAGNY
Newsom slams Trump, calling his deployment of the National Guard 'a dangerous abuse of power'
02:40
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Rachel Dobkin
California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump for deploying thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in Los Angeles amid anti-ICE protests.
He wrote on X Thursday night, “Donald Trump is using brave American soldiers as props in his political performance...It’s a dangerous abuse of power.”
Donald Trump is using brave American soldiers as props in his political performance.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 13, 2025
It's unconstitutional, it's immoral, and it's putting innocent lives at risk.
This isn’t leadership. It’s a dangerous abuse of power. pic.twitter.com/tZgQV9rEJ1
The National Guard has been protecting federal buildings and accompanying federal agents on ICE raids in Los Angeles.
Anti-ICE protests continue in Chicago Thursday evening
02:20
Protests over President Donald Trump’s ICE raids and mass deportation efforts that erupted in Los Angeles last Friday have spread to other major cities like Chicago.
Chicagoans took to the streets Thursday evening, chanting, “Get up, get down, Chicago is an immigrant town,” The New York Times reports.
The Times spoke to Rick Lucas, a nurse from Ohio who joined the protest while visiting The Windy City.
“I’m concerned that ICE is going to come into our hospital, disrupt patient care and rip families apart,” he said.
Local police made 17 arrests during protests in Chicago on Tuesday, per the Times. Those protesters were charged with aggravated battery, reckless conduct and criminal damage to government property.
LA man charged with assaulting federal officer during protest
02:04
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Rachel Dobkin
Christian Damien Cerna-Camacho of Boyle Heights is accused of assaulting a federal officer during an immigration protest, NBC Los Angeles reported.
Protesters claim Cerna-Camacho punched the officer.
The man is also accused of telling federal officers he had guns and was going to shoot them.
Cerna-Camacho had his first court appearance Thursday, which his wife and five-month-old baby attended. He was denied bail.
Democrat senator says Alex Padilla's detainment is 'the kind of stuff you see in Russia and China'
02:00
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Rachel Dobkin
Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat who serves on the Armed Services Committee, said on CNN in reaction to Senator Alex Padilla being handcuffed during a DHS press conference: “This is the kind of stuff you see in Russia and China, not the United States. It’s un-American.”
Padilla was forcibly removed, restrained, and handcuffed during a press conference Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held Thursday when he attempted to question her on the Trump administration’s response to the anti-ICE raids in Los Angeles.
Washington erupts after agents handcuff Democratic Senator at DHS Secretary press conference
01:40
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Rachel Dobkin
Washington erupted at the site of Sen. Alex Padilla of California being forcibly removed and pinned to the floor during a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Almost immediately, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the apprehension of Padilla during a speech on the Senate floor.
“I just saw something that sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator,” Schumer said. “We need immediate answers to what the hell went on.”
Padilla’s apprehension came as the House of Representatives was voting. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat of Texas, could barely speak to The Independent because she was saddened by it.
“I’ve been saying this for months now, Donald Trump wants to be a dictator, and this is the latest escalation in what has been a very, very concerning series of events in recent weeks,” Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona told The Independent.
Eric Garcia reports.
IN FOCUS: How Donald Trump is getting his own back on LA – the city that bet against him
01:20
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Rachel Dobkin
Stephen Armstrong writes:
Hollywood had assumed it could last year’s election win with its vibes-based Brat summer. Kamala Harris was heavily boosted by star power from George Clooney and Bruce Springsteen to Oprah Winfrey and Billie Eilish… the roll call is long and includes Michael Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Aniston and Cardi B. Even California’s Republican former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger voted Harris/Walz. But it turns out popular right-wing podcasters Joe Rogan and Theo Von hold more cultural sway than Taylor Swift and Beyonce.
Six months on and LA is a febrile place. In an unprecedented move this week, Trump seemingly declared war on the city and deployed thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without California governor Gavin Newsom’s permission. More than 400 people have been arrested in LA since protests erupted in the wake of a string of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday, including 330 undocumented migrants and 157 individuals facing charges of assault or obstruction...
The first signs of a collision course being set between Trump and America’s progressive culture scene were in February with his takeover of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a bi-partisan national cultural centre based in Washington DC...
LA is a progressive town, which puts it at odds with the drive for Maga populist ideas in America’s cultural life, but there are hints that moviegoers are now starting to question Hollywood’s progressive instincts. Fan reaction to The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, Eternals and The Marvels was a howl of fanboy fury about “forced diversity”. Left-leaning documentary company Participant Media – which made An Inconvenient Truth – ran out of money and closed last year, while Am I Racist? was 2024’s highest-grossing documentary – chiming with a new cultural zeitgeist which Trump is now fully encapsulating.
Read on...
LA mayor takes a jab at Trump administration, saying city will uphold 'our constitution'
01:15
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Rachel Dobkin
No matter what this Adminstration does, we will always uphold and reflect what Los Angeles and the United States of America are truly about:
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 12, 2025
Freedom.
Tolerance.
And our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/ft6claUNig
Watch: Mike Johnson suggests punishment for Sen. Alex Padilla after Kristi Noem conference incident
01:05
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Rachel Dobkin
Alex Padilla says there was 'no apology' from Kristi Noem following his detainment at a DHS press conference
01:02
,
Rachel Dobkin
Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not apologize to him after he was forcibly removed by Secret Service and FBI officials at a press conference she held Thursday.
Padilla was forcibly removed, restrained, and handcuffed during Noem’s press conference when he attempted to question her on the Trump administration’s response to the anti-ICE raids in Los Angeles.
The congressman told CNN’s Erin Burnett Thursday night that when his handcuffs were taken off, he was offered a meeting with the secretary.
“But it’s the Trump administration, so I’m not holding my breath for decency, decorum or manners here,” he added.
ANALYSIS: Trump may get more than he bargained for by picking a fight with Los Angeles
01:00
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Rachel Dobkin
John Bowden writes:
The media-savvy Trump was eager for an opportunity to spin the narrative back against his opponents. On the issue of anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles, he thought he had it.
But even as polling shows that Americans largely to not support the sometimes-violent protests which have broken out in Los Angeles for the past several days, polling released this week indicates Americans are just as opposed to Trump’s handling of the situation — and are souring on his immigration agenda overall.
Read on...
Trump says Newsom should have been 'thanking' him for deploying the National Guard
Friday 13 June 2025 00:40
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Rachel Dobkin
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday night that California Governor Gavin Newsom should have been “thanking” him for deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles amid anti-ICE protests.
“Incompetent Gavin Newscum should have been THANKING me for the job we did in Los Angeles, rather than making sad excuses for the poor job he has done. If it weren’t for me getting the National Guard into Los Angeles, it would be burning to the ground right now,” Trump said.
Instead, Newsom has sued the Trump administration to stop the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines in the city, and called it “theater, madness, unconstitutional.”
A ruling on the matter is reportedly expected within the hour.
Legal expert believes judge will find Trump's National Guard order 'illegal'
Friday 13 June 2025 00:30
Ryan Goodman, a former special counsel at the Defense Department, said on CNN that he believes the judge overseeing California’s lawsuit against Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in Los Angeles will rule that the president’s order is “illegal.”
Goodman thinks the judge will find Trump “did not properly federalize the National Guard,” but that his deployment of 700 Marines on the city is “a separate matter” and that “he does not think he has enough evidence” to stop them.
During today’s hearing, Newsom’s attorney warned that the Trump administration was enacting a “dangerous expansion of executive power” by sending in the Guard against the wishes of state and local leaders, while the DOJ lawyer argued Trump rightfully used his powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
LA officials back Newsom's lawsuit against Trump, say it was local police who stopped bad actors in protests
Friday 13 June 2025 00:20
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Rachel Dobkin
The city of Los Angeles filed a legal document Thursday in support of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit to stop Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines amid protests against the president’s immigration raids, The Associated Press reports.
The document stated the Los Angeles Police Department deployed nearly 600 officers to “put an end to the day’s unlawful assemblies, looting, vandalism, and other violence.”
The National Guard has been protecting federal personnel and property, while local law enforcement is doing crowd control.
The city of Los Angeles said in the document that local law enforcement is prepared to respond to large protests, while the military is “trained in combat and warfare.”
An attorney for Newsom’s office and an attorney for the Trump administration had gone head-to-head in federal court Thursday for a hearing on California’s lawsuit, The Independent’s Josh Marcus reports.
During the hearing, Newsom’s attorney warned that the Trump administration was enacting a “dangerous expansion of executive power” by sending in the Guard against the wishes of state and local leaders.
The Trump administration’s lawyer argued the president rightfully used his powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and that the National Guard order would’ve been lawful even without invoking the federal law in question, 10 U.S. Code § 12406.
Gavin Newsom responds to Kristi Noem's claim that the governor didn't return her call
Friday 13 June 2025 00:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t return her call amid the protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Newsom’s office told NBC Los Angeles in response to Noem’s claim: “The governor spoke with the president directly on Friday and had multiple exchanges with DHS secretary’s boss, Susie Wiles.”
Morale among California National Guard and Marines deployed in LA is underwater, report claims
Thursday 12 June 2025 23:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
The 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 US Marines sent to Los Angeles in response to the ongoing anti-immigration raid protests are reportedly suffering from low morale, according to members of the veterans community, amid allegations of a chaotic initial deployment and widespread concerns of the military being drafted into domestic law enforcement.
Josh Marcus reports from California.
California warns of ‘dangerous expansion of executive power’ in lawsuit challenging Trump’s National Guard order
Thursday 12 June 2025 23:23
,
Josh Marcus
The Trump administration and the state of California squared off on Thursday afternoon in federal court, as the Golden State challenges the president’s controversial decision from last week to federalize thousands of state National Guard troops and deploy them to respond to the Los Angeles protests.
During the hearing, an attorney for Governor Gavin Newsom’s office warned that the Trump administration was enacting a “dangerous expansion of executive power” by sending in the Guard against the wishes of state and local leaders.
California also expressed alarm at the ongoing presence of the federalized troops alongside immigration officers conducting operations around Los Angeles, suggesting such tactics were an ongoing violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars federal troops from being used for domestic law enforcement unless the president invokes the Insurrection Act, which he so far hasn’t.
“If that's not a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, nothing is,” an official for the governor’s office said, pointing to June 10 photos of the deployed troops standing guard as ICE agents made arrests.
California argues the deployment, which has swelled to encompass 4,000 National Guard troops, violates federal law on the topic, which describes presidents giving orders to state National Guard branches “through the governors.”
The Trump administration, for its part, argues the president rightfully used his powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and that the National Guard order would’ve been lawful even without invoking the federal law in question, 10 U.S. Code § 12406.
The White House also says it transmitted its orders to a state official who handles National Guard-related issues, despite not working with Newsom directly.
Judge Charles R. Breyer, who is hearing the case, often appeared skeptical towards the Justice Department’s position, pushing back on an administration lawyer for his position that courts didn’t have the authority to