A landmark federal trial began in San Francisco on August 11, 2025, to determine the legality of former President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during protests following immigration raids in June. The state of California, led by Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, argues that the deployment violated the Posse Comitatus Act, a law nearly 150 years old that restricts the use of the military for domestic policing. California contends that the troops were sent to silence protests and that their presence caused anxiety and fear among residents. The Trump administration maintains that the president had the authority to deploy the military in this context and has appealed the case, asserting that courts cannot question presidential decisions on such matters. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer presided over the bench trial, which featured testimony from military officials including Army Deputy Chief of Staff William Harrington. The trial highlighted tensions between federal and state authorities and raised questions about whether the protests constituted a "rebellion" under U.S. law, a key factor in the administration's justification for the troop deployment. Legal experts noted that the case exposes vulnerabilities in longstanding American laws and traditions that limit the military's domestic role. The outcome of this trial could have national implications for the use of military forces in civilian law enforcement roles.