Larson Statement on Court Ruling Against Trump Deployment of Troops on U.S. Soil

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after a federal judge found President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles to be illegal. 

“Yet another federal court has confirmed our warnings about President Trump’s abuses of power – he operates outside of the law,” said Larson. “Whether it is masked ICE operatives separating families in Newington or ordering the Marines to patrol Los Angeles streets, Donald Trump wants to treat federal forces like his personal army. That is not the America I know. Connecticut families deserve leaders who stand up for their rights and protect them from these heavy-handed, illegal tactics. Judge Breyer was right to rein in Trump's moves in Los Angeles. Will House Republicans step up to defend the Constitution, or will they continue to enable this president’s descent toward authoritarianism?” 

Today’s court ruling found that the President’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles violated longstanding federal law barring military forces from conducting domestic law enforcement.  

Following last week’s ICE raid in Newington, Rep. Larson called on Congress to pass the No Secret Police Actto require ICE agents to identify themselves and bar them from wearing masks. He is also cosponsoring a resolution to end President Trump’s federal takeover of law enforcement in Washington, D.C.