Three officials involved in the controversial deployment of National Guard soldiers President Trump to respond to the protests at Los Angeles, testified in the court on Monday, as the California government Gavin Newsom’s case began against the Trump administration.
The question on this issue is whether the military forces sent by Mr. Trump – including Marine Corps and National Guard – violated the 19th -century Pos Committetous Act, which prevents the army from implementing domestic laws.
Neusam Called deployment Of about 4,000 California National Guard soldiers, who are usually subject to the command of the governor, an illegal “power grab”. But Mr. Trump Argued This step was legal and necessary to protect immigration agents and federal property during stressful protest against operations by ICE, or immigration and customs enforcement.
June at the beginning of Mr. Trump executive Order Calling the guard and said that the protest is “a form of rebellion.” And the administration has justified the deployment using a law called Title 10 that allows the President to call the guard forces during the “rebellion” or “invasion”, or if it is “unable to” with regular forces to execute the United States laws. “
During Monday’s testimony, in a notable moment, Major General Scott Sharman-was deployed as the Commanding General of the Guard Task Force at Los Angeles at a point-said he said that he never heard the word “rebellion”, which was used to describe the situation in the second largest city in the country.
The San Francisco -based US District Judge Charles Brear is overseeing a three -day test. Breyer earlier ruled in June that Mr. Trump was posted. Probably illegalAn appellate court overturned the decision that the President is saying Should be honored To decide whether the title 10 applies, and Mr. Trump had some basis to say that violence during the protest prevented federal officials from implementing the law. Appellate judges did not weigh whether the protests formed a rebellion, which they said that it was not necessary to be legal for deployment.
After Mr. Trump, the controversy received new resonance on Monday Announced National Guard forces will be deployed in Washington, DC to assist the police. Unlike California, the DC National Guard reports to the President.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Said Guard forces will not be involved in law enforcement in the nation’s capital, but if necessary they can briefly detain people and hand them over to the police.
Officials testified about the role of the army amidst La protests
Military officials stated that their mission was to protect federal facilities and federal personnel, and “to support federal law enforcement.”
Sharman testified that whenever local law enforcement performed an operation, the army can still be sent, even if there is no physical threat and no protest laws are breaking the law.
The comments surprised the brair, who pressed him on the claim, asking: “So you can send the army out if there is no danger?” Sharman confirmed that whenever the local law enforcement was doing an operation, the army could be sent out, stating that a threat could develop even when there was no active threat.
“Will this be not always the case?” Breyer replied.
But Sharman said that he had withdrawn support for an operation. He testified that a DHS officer called him “dislike” for his country to request him for military assistance with an immigration enforcement operation at McArther Park. He said that he had evaluated that there was less risk for federal agents on that occasion.
Operation, which took place on 7 July, Displayed Officers and military Humve and national attention were attracted by climbing on horseback.
Staff Deputy Chief William Harrington testified for the Los Angeles Military Periny Task Force that he understood that the federal National Guard Sainiks could not engage in civil enforcement activities, and everyone knew that the Pose Committees Act was implemented. He said that members of the task force responded to the requests for assistance from federal law enforcement agencies. These included protecting federal buildings and conservation of force for federal agents who were executing tasks such as search warrant operations.
Ernesto Santacruz Jr., director of a field office of the Homeland Security Department, testified on Monday that the National Guard’s enforcement and removal operations once there was a significant decrease in the attack on agents from the ICE’s enforcement and removal operations. He said that there were daily attacks on officers before deployment.
Santa Cruz testified that the National Guard soldiers were “for the aid and safety of federal officials”. He did not know about any denial of requests for assistance.
When asked about the test that it was a test center, Posse Comitatus Act, Santacruz had no knowledge of what he allowed or prohibited.
At its peak in June, around 5,000 service members were deployed in the Los Angeles area: some 4,000 National Guard Troops and 700 Marines. Most guard forces have been returned to California, although around 300 are under federal control.
By Sunday night, the remaining guard force was still guarding a courtyard in the city of Los Angeles and a feature in Paramount, California, Sharman testified.
The test will continue on Tuesday, when the federal government would call Sharman back to the stand. On Wednesday, the court is set to listen to several legal issues raised by the government, which lacks standing in California.
