The court concluded that the deployment violated the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the use of the U.S. military to enforce domestic law. The ruling noted that while protests and isolated violence occurred in Los Angeles, there was no rebellion and local law enforcement remained capable of responding. The court stated that, under orders from then-President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and the Department of Defense, federal troops engaged in law enforcement activities contrary to congressional restrictions.
Mayor Bass emphasized that the ruling affirmed the city’s position, stating that Los Angeles would continue to resist unlawful actions and remain united. Although the Trump Administration is expected to appeal, the court’s decision establishes that federal law was broken in the deployment.
Since the summer, Mayor Bass and the City of Los Angeles have taken steps to oppose federal immigration raids and the federalization of the National Guard. In July, the City joined a lawsuit challenging the raids, which federal judges found to involve unlawful racial profiling and targeting of workplaces.
Mayor Bass also issued an executive directive to support immigrant communities in Los Angeles. Measures include:
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Strengthening departmental training and protocols to ensure compliance with city law prohibiting the use of local resources in immigration enforcement.
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Establishing a working group with the LAPD, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, community leaders, and immigrant rights organizations to provide guidance on police response to immigration enforcement.
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Requesting records from the federal government related to the raids.
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Expanding access to city resources for immigrant families through departmental Immigrant Affairs Liaisons.
The full text of the federal court ruling is publicly available.
