Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom plans to sue the Trump administration for deploying the Army National Guard to California in response to anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots, he said Monday.
Newsom accused Trump of acting illegally by sending in 2,000 guardsmen to Los Angeles as riots raged over the weekend.
“He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard,” Newsom wrote on X, adding, “We’re suing him.”
“We don’t take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops,” state Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed in remarks to reporters, according to the Associated Press.
Newsom’s legal threats come after Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan said that he is considering asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute California officials for “fomenting the anti‑ICE riots.” (RELATED: ‘It Is Only A Matter Of Time’: Tom Homan Warns Democrats That ‘Vilifying’ ICE Could Cause Deadly Consequences)
Rioting began following ICE raids in LA, part of a broader push by the agency to ramp up illegal immigrant deportations. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the LA raids led to the arrest of several violent illegal alien criminals. ICE has made over 100,000 arrests since the beginning of Trump’s second term, and border crossings have fallen to historic lows, according to the White House.
Although Newsom has repeatedly insisted that California officials had the situation under control, the scene in LA suggests otherwise. Rioters were seen setting fire to police vehicles and autonomous taxis and tossing rocks at federal law enforcement officials.
Flames engulf an autonomous Waymo vehicle during an anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 8, 2025. (Photo by Benjamin Hanson / Middle East Images via AFP)
In the face of California’s lawsuit, Trump is standing by his move to deploy the National Guard, saying in a social media post, “We made a great decision.”
Newsom’s current feud with President Trump is a continuation of California lawmakers’ repeated attempts to derail ICE operations. Democrats in the California Senate moved to pass legislation aimed at severely limiting ICE agents’ ability to effectively operate in the state. LA leaders designated the city a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants following Trump’s inauguration.
