By Alexander J. Schorr

Photo: KTLA screenshot: flashbang deployed amid L.A. civil unrest at Los Angeles Sheriff's officer looks on

June 11, 2025 (Los Angeles) -- California sued the Trump administration this week over the President’s order to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the Governor's consent. California Governor Gavin Newsom has argued that the deployment is “an illegal act, an immoral act, [and] an unconstitutional act.”

A hearing is scheduled Thursday on the lawsuit, which was filed before Trump also ordered 700 Marines deployed protect federal buildings in Los Angeles, further heightening tensions following five days of protests over roundups of undocumented immigrants, many of whom have not been charged with any crimes. As residents sought to block ICE from hauling away immigrants, some violent clashes ensued, including rocks thrown at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and vehicles burned.

The deployment appears to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without the request of its governor, adding a significant escalation against those who have sought to halt the administration’s mass deportation efforts.