\u201cOnce again, the courts have rejected the Trump\u00a0Administration\u2019s\u00a0attempts to circumvent the law for his own political agenda,\u201d\u00a0said Attorney General Bonta.\u00a0\u201cDeploying the National Guard in Los Angeles with no rhyme or reason was a clear example of federal overreach, and it will not be tolerated. When\u00a0the President tramples on the Constitution and the rights of Californians, we\u2019ll fight to hold him accountable\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and we will win.\u201d<\/p>\n
The decision builds on precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court last December<\/a> holding that President Trump\u2019s federalization of the Illinois National Guard was illegal. That opinion rejected one argument the President had raised for federalization; today\u2019s decision in California\u2019s case also rejects the President\u2019s made-up assertion that there was a \u201crebellion\u201d in Los Angeles that warranted federalizing the Guard, which the court held was not \u201ca colorable assessment within a \u2018range of honest judgment.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Today\u2019s rejection of Trump\u2019s \u201crebellion\u201d claim is a critical safeguard ahead of next month\u2019s elections: Donald Trump is on notice that the courts will swat down any false claims of emergencies and rebellions to militarize our communities, intimidate citizens, and engage in authoritarian tactics.<\/p>\n The fight for upholding the Constitution<\/p>\n In June 2025, following President Trump\u2019s call to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom against the Trump administration to end the illegal and unnecessary takeover of a CalGuard unit, which needlessly escalated chaos and violence in the Los Angeles region.\u00a0<\/p>\n Under the California Constitution, Governor Newsom is the Commander-in-Chief of the California National Guard. In the lawsuit, Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta explained that the federal government overstepped its legal authority and bypassed the Governor\u2019s approval to take over a unit of CalGuard, in a situation where federal government intervention was not needed and did not meet the necessary criteria for federalization. The \u201cunrest\u201d in Los Angeles was nowhere close to rising to the level of a \u201crebellion\u201d beyond the capacity of local and state authorities to control, nor was it different in kind from other similar situations in recent years that were brought under control by local authorities with no need for military intervention.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reminder to Californians<\/p>\n With increased reports of federal immigration agents in some communities across California, Governor Newsom has urged Californians to know their rights, stay safe and remain informed<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n If you believe you have witnessed potentially unlawful conduct by a federal agent, report it. California has an online portal where Californians can submit information, photographs, and video: www.oag.ca.gov\/reportmisconduct<\/a>. If you believe a crime is occurring or someone is in immediate danger, call 911.<\/p>\n