In a collective stance, the City of New York, along with a dozen other municipalities, has filed an amicus brief to support California Governor Gavin Newsom's case against what they see as the federal government's overstepping military deployment in American cities. Specifically, they oppose the stationing of the National Guard in Los Angeles, which a federal judge previously ruled against. "An unlawful military presence trampling on the sovereign rights of cities and undermining local law enforcement efforts should not be tolerated in any of our communities," Muriel Goode-Trufant told the NYC Mayor's Office.
This legal maneuver comes in the wake of protests over immigration enforcement operations, which the Trump administration has responded to by federalizing the National Guard. New York City's argument hinges on the claim that President Trump exceeded the narrow powers granted by Congress in this matter and invaded the Tenth Amendment. The Ninth Circuit Court is currently reviewing the matter, having stayed the district court ruling that initially blocked the deployment. Amid assertions from the federal government, New York City has stood firm, with Mayor Eric Adams stating, "crime is plummeting across the five boroughs, with major violent crimes reaching record lows." He affirmed the city's stance, expressing a desire "to continue to work with the federal government to stop the flow of illegal guns to our city from other cities and states," according to the NYC Mayor's Office.
The amicus brief was prepared by the City of Los Angeles and emphasizes the lack of a legal basis for deploying federal troops in the city. It argues that the conditions for lawful deployment under Title 10 of the U.S. Code were not met, namely an invasion or rebellion directed toward the federal government. Additionally, the coalition points out that the contribution of combat-trained soldiers to policing duties has not only been impeded but has also escalated tensions and violence at protests.
According to Goode-Trufant's assertion in the brief, cities are better equipped and authorized to manage public safety and ensure the protection of First Amendment rights. The ensemble of municipalities aligning with New York and Los Angeles includes a breadth of cities like Chicago, Boston, and Baltimore as well as the County of Los Angeles, each adamant in their commitment to oppose the perceived encroachment of a military solution to civil unrest—a solution they see as fundamentally inappropriate for American streets. They have now openly called for the court to immediately put an end to what they label as an unchecked federal overreach. Furthermore, the group insists that their expertise and authority in domestic law enforcement should be recognized and not undermined by federal military intervention, as Goode-Trufant conveyed.
