Egypt Daily News – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he will file a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump over the decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles. The move came in response to large-scale protests that erupted following a controversial immigration enforcement operation, which led to confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators.
The protests were triggered when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carried out a large-scale operation targeting undocumented immigrants in downtown Los Angeles. What began as a coordinated sweep quickly escalated into chaos, with demonstrators taking to the streets to protest what they called an aggressive crackdown on immigrant communities.
According to police reports, the protests turned violent in some areas. Demonstrators blocked major intersections, set fire to several vehicles, and clashed with law enforcement. At least two police officers were injured after two motorcyclists attempted to breach a police barricade near Alameda and Temple Streets. The riders were arrested, and emergency services provided immediate medical care to the injured officers. Firefighters were also dispatched to contain vehicle fires started by protesters.
The protests were deemed unauthorized by local authorities, and city officials expressed concern over the sudden escalation and lack of coordination with state leadership. Governor Newsom, who was not consulted about the deployment and sharply criticized the Trump administration’s decision.
In a strongly worded social media post, Newsom wrote:
“This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted. He ignited the crisis, then tried to illegally federalize the National Guard. The executive order he signed doesn’t just affect California — it sets a dangerous precedent by giving him the power to intervene in any state. We will sue him.”
Earlier that day, in an interview with MSNBC, Newsom said he believed Trump’s actions were politically motivated and unconstitutional. He pointed out that ICE and the Department of Homeland Security failed to coordinate with state or local officials before conducting the operation, which he said endangered public safety.
The federal response intensified on June 8 when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that 2,000 National Guard troops would be deployed to Los Angeles to help “restore order” amid what the administration described as “dangerous unrest.” Critics, however, saw the move as a federal overreach aimed at bolstering Trump’s image as a tough-on-immigration leader ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
In response, Newsom warned that California might consider withholding federal tax contributions if the federal government continues to bypass state authority or imposes funding cuts. This isn’t the first time tensions have flared between the state and the federal government.
The dispute also follows Trump’s hardline immigration stance laid out during his January 20 inaugural address as the 47th president of the United States. He pledged to “immediately stop the flow of illegal immigrants” and “begin deporting millions” as part of a broader plan to overhaul the U.S. immigration system.
As of now, no official lawsuit has been filed, but legal experts suggest that the case could center around the limits of federal authority and the constitutional right of states to manage their own law enforcement and public safety responses.
