Los Angeles protests: California sues Trump administration for deploying National Guard and 'acting illegally'

California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Monday post that California will sue President Trump, saying he "illegally acted" to federalize the National Guard during protests against federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles. Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles to curb unrest over immigration raids. Trump repeatedly criticised Newsom and other California officials' handling of the protests - the White House says he "rightfully stepped in to restore law and order".

The action is in response to the administration's extraordinary deployment of the National Guard to confront immigration protesters who took to the streets in Los Angeles. “Commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC on Sunday.

Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats have argued Trump's deployment of the National Guard was an unnecessary escalation, while Trump administration officials have railed against their leadership.

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Protests in California

The streets of the vast city, home to 4 million residents, remained largely quiet Monday morning—just a day after massive crowds shut down a major freeway and set self-driving cars ablaze. Law enforcement had responded forcefully, deploying tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.

Sunday marked the third—and most intense—day of protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region. Demonstrations erupted across several downtown blocks and a few other locations, fueled by the arrival of roughly 300 National Guard troops, which triggered fear and outrage among many locals.

As night fell, authorities declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, prompting many protesters to leave. But some remained behind makeshift barricades, throwing objects at officers. Others hurled concrete chunks, rocks, electric scooters, and fireworks at California Highway Patrol units stationed on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. At one point, officers were forced to take cover beneath an overpass.

On Saturday, Trump signed a memorandum calling in the National Guard — despite opposition from the state's and the city's Democratic leadership. Newsom, after saying Sunday that the Golden State would be taking Trump to court, wrote in a Monday X post that the president had "flamed the fires."

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He added, "The order he signed doesn't just apply to CA. It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing. We're suing him. Trump's order cited "[n]umerous incidents of violence and disorder" and "violent protests" but did not specifically mention California or the Los Angeles area.

"Gavin Newsom's feckless leadership is directly responsible for the lawless riots and violent attacks on law enforcement in Los Angeles," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement provided to Axios.

Jackson continued, "Instead of filing baseless lawsuits meant to score political points with his left-wing base, Newsom should focus on protecting Americans by restoring law and order to his state."

(With inputs from AP)