Governor sues Trump for 'illegally' using national guard against LA protesters

California governor Gavin Newsom is suing to prevent Donald Trump taking control of state national guard units and using them against protesters opposed to the administration’s mass deportation efforts.

- ANDREW FEINBERG

Mr Newsom said violence in parts of Los Angeles over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and arrests was “exactly what Trump wanted”.

Last night, President Trump said he supported the idea of arresting Mr Newsom, as an additional 700 US marines were deployed to the area until more national guards troops could reach the city. It is extremely rare for marines to be used in domestic policing, but their role for now is to protect federal property.

Returning to the White House yesterday after a night at Camp David, Trump was asked by a reporter whether his border czar, Tom Homan, should arrest Mr Newsom. He has threatened to arrest anyone who obstructs immigration enforcement efforts, including the governor.

“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Mr Trump replied. “Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”

Police were braced for a fourth day of clashes yesterday, even after declaring the whole of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly area after some demonstrators set cars alight and blocked freeways.

Mr Newsom said the president had “flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalise the national guard” with his weekend memorandum that brought at least 2,000 soldiers into federal service for two months to tackle “a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States”.

The governor pointed out that Mr Trump’s memorandum leaves open the possibility of using both national guard and active duty military to quell protests nationwide. “It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing,” Mr Newsom said, adding: “We’re suing him.”