Posse Comitatus Act at middle of Trump-Newsom Nationwide Guard dispute in LA

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President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are clashing over the deployment of the National Guard amid ongoing Los Angeles riots with completely different interpretations of the 1878 legislation that governs the usage of the navy to implement the legislation domestically.

The Posse Comitatus Act was signed into legislation by President Rutherford B. Hayes amid issues that the navy had an excessive amount of sway over civilian affairs throughout Reconstruction. It typically bars the usage of the U.S. navy for civilian legislation enforcement contained in the nation, however there are key exceptions. Trump deployed the Nationwide Guard early Sunday, however to date, these troops haven't participated in any direct legislation enforcement.

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Trump despatched within the Nationwide Guard after Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers had been reportedly attacked on the streets of L.A. as they carried out raids to catch and deport unlawful immigrants. Seeing that neither Newsom nor L.A. Mayor Karen Bass had been transferring aggressively sufficient to cease the assaults, Trump signed a presidential memorandum to deploy 2,000 Nationwide Guard troops to "deal with the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester," the White Home stated in an announcement.

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Newsom objected instantly even because the riots spiraled.

"I've formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their illegal deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command," Newsom wrote on X on Sunday alongside his letter to President Trump. "We didn’t have an issue till Trump acquired concerned. This can be a severe breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions whereas pulling assets from the place they’re truly wanted."

Along with the Guard, the Pentagon stated Sunday evening it stands able to ship in 500 active-duty Marines.

If the navy is to take an energetic function in suppressing the riots, the 147-year-old legislation will take middle stage. Exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act that permit the navy to implement the legislation towards U.S. residents embrace congressional decree, if an rebellion has been declared below the Insurrection Act , or when state governments show unable or unwilling to impose legislation and order.