Trump administration may have to hand over documents related to its use of troops in California

The Trump administration may need to hand over photos internal reports and other documents related to its use of the California National Guard and military in Southern California amid its ongoing immigration enforcement efforts U S District Judge Charles Breyer is considering a discovery request from Gov Gavin Newsom in the continuing legal battle over President Donald Trump s federalization of the state s National Guard and deployment of troops to Southern California as large protests have broken out in opposition to the administration s immigration operations In the discovery request attorneys for the state noted it would largely be seeking discovery on enforcement actions that have already taken place and generalized instructions on authorized use of these federalized troops and Marines rather than sensitive information specific to future federal law enforcement actions RELATED Total number of troops supporting federal missions in Los Angeles remain at The request revealed it seeks documents internal reports photos and other such evidence related to the operations or practices of the National Guard and military in operations that are not taking place on federal property but rather on the streets of communities in Southern California Related Articles California city official criticized and under scrutiny for suggesting gangs should combat ICE Armed immigration officers aren t consistently telling California police about raids and selected fear it s a creating dangerous situations California official criticized for appearing to call on gangs to intervene in immigration raids Kilmar Abrego Garcia to remain in jail while attorneys debate whether he ll be deported if issued Anger uncertainty at California hospital after immigration agents arrive with woman in custody small protest ensues Attorneys for the state also disclosed they wish to depose an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field officer who they alleged has operational visibility into the military s actions in California since the deployment as well as any continued ICE operations before or after the military was deployed as well as a major general who they explained has visibility and knowledge of orders issued to the troops on rules of engagement the scope of the duties and the nature of the deployment with ICE Attorneys for the Trump administration objected to the discovery request on Wednesday June calling it improper and substantively unjustified They noted the state has lost this development full stop and this Court should read the writing on the wall and refuse to entertain the unbelievably broad and unnecessary requested discovery including the request to depose two national shield administrators during defense operations But attorneys for Newsom declared the state demands that information to prove the Trump administration has allegedly acted beyond the scope of the Posse Comitatus Act which prohibits troops from conducting civilian law enforcement on U S soil Breyer last week questioned both sides for briefings on whether the Posse Comitatus Act is being violated in Los Angeles Attorneys for the Trump administration also announced that if any discovery were to take place expedition is unwarranted and the circumstance should be transferred to the Central District of California It is now in the Northern District of California Brett Shumate an attorney for the Trump administration recounted federal appeals judges last week that the National Guard is needed to protect federal buildings and agents in Los Angeles amid ongoing violence Without the Guard Shumate argued properties and people would be at jeopardy The situation on the ground has not changed Shumate an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department stated Breyer meanwhile is weighing whether to issue a more durable preliminary injunction restricting what Trump can do with various National Guard troops or active-duty Marines his administration has also deployed into the city He previously granted a temporary restraining order calling Trump s federalization of the National Guard illegal and returning control over the troops to Newsom But a federal appeals court last week handed a win to Trump unanimously concluding that conditions in the Los Angeles area were sufficient for the president to deploy the troops allowing him to keep control Trump s club has argued that the courts do not have a role in overturning Trump s decision to federalize members of the California National Guard Trump has used what s called Title which allows the president to federalize the National Guard when the country is invaded when there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the leadership or when the president is otherwise unable to execute the laws of the United States as the basis for his actions Newsom though has vowed to continue to fight the administration s use of the National Guard and Marines The president is not a king and is not above the law he noted Monday We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump s authoritarian use of U S military soldiers against citizens The Associated Press contributed to this review