California Files Suit Challenging Trump’s National Guard Deployment

California sued the Trump administration Monday challenging the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell the immigration riots that rocked the city over the weekend.

Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, launched the challenge in the wake of the destructive riots by crowds resisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, alleging the federalization of the 2,000 California National Guardsmen without Newsom’s approval exceeded presidential authority, according to a press release from Bonta’s office.

“President Trump’s order calling federalized National Guard troops into Los Angeles – over the objections of the Governor and local law enforcement – is unnecessary and counterproductive,” Bonta said of the suit. “It’s also deeply unfair to the members of the National Guard who are hard at work every day protecting our state, preparing for and responding to emergencies, and training so that, if called, they can fight our nation’s wars.”

Nearly 1,000 rioters began causing major damage to the city after the riots began, surrounding a federal building while assaulting ICE agents, slashing tires and destroying government property on Friday night, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The riots have already caused considerable property damage while shutting down several busy streets in the city.

Trump deployed the National Guard on Saturday night after rioting continued to intensify, with the president warning Newsom on that day that the federal government would step in if the city and state could not manage to quell the unrest.

“Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority. This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic,” Newsom said of the suit.

Bonta’s office, Newsom’s office and the White House did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.