ACLU Condemns Court Ruling Allowing Federal Control of California National Guard

Foto: X / @USNorthernCmd

The American Civil Liberties Union of California criticized a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that allows the president to federalize the California National Guard without Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent.

The reaction comes amid increased immigration enforcement raids across California and community protests, particularly in Los Angeles, where residents have demonstrated against federal immigration operations.

According to a June 19, 2025 ACLU press release, the organization warned the ruling “sets a dangerous precedent, undermines state sovereignty, and threatens the civil rights and civil liberties of Californians and all Americans.”

The ACLU condemned the Trump administration’s National Guard deployment to Los Angeles during peaceful protests as “an unnecessary, inflammatory, and dangerous abuse of presidential power.”

“The military should not police civilians. Their presence in the streets erodes our sense of safety and compromises our freedom to assemble, voice dissent, and go about our daily lives,” said Shilpi Agarwal, legal director of the ACLU of Northern California, according to the press release.

The civil rights organization warned the ruling could enable similar deployments in states like Illinois and New York, where the administration has promised mass detentions and deportations.

The ACLU stated it would continue fighting federal military deployment against civilians and called on Congress to reject efforts to normalize military intervention in civilian affairs. The organization commended Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta for continuing to challenge the ruling.

This story was written using artificial intelligence and reviewed by the Tijuanapress.com newsroom team.