Federal Judge Delays California’s Bid to Block Trump’s Military Deployment Amid ICE Protests

Hearing set for June 13 as Judge denies emergency restraining order; Trump vows troops will stay in LA “until there’s peace” amid fierce backlash from California leaders.

California [US], June 11: A federal judge in San Francisco has rejected California’s urgent request to immediately halt President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to assist in federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, according to a report by CNN.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer declined to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) without a hearing, instead scheduling arguments for Thursday at 1:30 PM to consider the state’s request in full. The ruling delays any immediate judicial intervention, allowing both California and the Trump administration to submit additional written arguments before a final decision.

ALSO READ: Trump Labels Los Angeles Protests a “Full-Blown Assault on Peace” Amid National Guard Surge

In its emergency filing, the state argued the deployment violated constitutional norms and undermined the state’s sovereign authority by allowing the military to be used for domestic law enforcement without gubernatorial approval.

However, in a short court filing Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice dismissed California’s claims as “legally meritless,” stating that any restraining order would “jeopardize the safety of DHS personnel” and “interfere with federal operations.”

This legal clash comes amid escalating unrest in Los Angeles, where federal ICE raids have sparked protests, some of which turned violent. The Trump administration deployed over 4,000 troops — 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines — framing the move as necessary to maintain law and order.

Speaking from Joint Base Andrews, President Donald Trump defended the decision, stating the military would remain in place “until there’s peace.”

“If there’s peace, we get out. If there’s even a chance of no peace, we stay there. A lot of people are being arrested,” Trump said. “They’re going to be in jail for a long time.”

Earlier in the day, Trump told a crowd at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during a ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, that the protests were “a full-blown assault on peace, order, and national sovereignty.”

He accused California leaders of negligence and complicity, particularly targeting Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, calling them “incompetent” and accusing them of encouraging agitators and insurrectionists.

“Within a few decades, Los Angeles has gone from being one of the cleanest, safest cities to a trash heap controlled by criminal networks,” Trump said. “We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released new images on X Tuesday showing officers detaining immigrants in Los Angeles while being shielded by National Guard troops—marking the first public visuals of military personnel directly supporting ICE operations.

In response to the growing unrest, Mayor Karen Bass warned that a curfew in downtown Los Angeles could be imposed within hours. “I will be meeting with the police chief. An announcement is expected before nightfall,” she stated.

This ruling represents only the first legal hurdle in what is likely to be a prolonged battle between California’s Democratic leadership and a White House intent on using federal force to clamp down on immigration-related civil disobedience. The outcome of Thursday’s hearing could significantly impact federal-state relations and the scope of executive power during domestic crises.