Newsom threatens legal action to Trump’s federal agents in state
Governor Gavin Newsom said President Donald Trump sending federal troops to San Francisco is part of the “authoritarian playbook.”
(This story was updated with new information.)
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie confirmed Thursday, Sept. 23, that President Donald Trump has abandoned plans to send National Guard troops into the city.
“Keeping San Franciscans safe is my top priority,” Lurie said, recounting his conversation with the president. “We welcome partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies to fight drugs and crime, but militarized immigration enforcement would hinder our recovery.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed the decision Thursday morning, according to Lurie. The mayor praised city leaders and residents for remaining united: “Our values have been on full display—this is the best of our city.”
Here’s what to know about federal law enforcement immigration crackdowns in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Trump: Friends from Bay Area changed my mind about ‘surge”
Federal immigration agents were preparing to mobilize from a Coast Guard base in the Bay Area when President Trump abruptly pulled the plug on the San Francisco deployment, halting the operation before it left the ground.
More than 100 federal agents are expected to arrive at the Coast Guard base in Alameda as early as Sept. 23, according to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and New York Times. The operation would have involved U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other agencies targeting what DHS calls “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”
President Trump said he pulled back federal action in San Francisco after hearing from friends in the Bay Area who vouched for Mayor Daniel Lurie’s leadership. In a post on Truth Social, Trump singled out Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff—who recently stirred controversy by calling for National Guard intervention—and Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, who reportedly urged restraint.
California leaders push back against federal crackdown
Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to sue if federal troops enter San Francisco, calling the move “straight out of an authoritarian’s playbook.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Kevin Mullin warned that California law could expose federal agents to prosecution if they violate state statutes.
“The people of San Francisco will continue to stand with the patriotic immigrants who are the constant reinvigoration of America,” Pelosi and Mullin said in a joint statement. Meanwhile, Trump has hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act and told Fox News, “We’re going to go to San Francisco next,” even as legal battles over deployments in Portland and Chicago intensify.
What Are the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act?
The Insurrection Act of 1807 is a federal law that gives the President authority to deploy U.S. military forces within the country to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion. It’s been invoked sparingly in U.S. history, typically during major crises like the Civil Rights era or natural disasters.
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 restricts the use of the U.S. armed forces for domestic law enforcement, aiming to prevent military involvement in civilian policing. It’s a cornerstone of the principle that the military should not act as a national police force. However, the Insurrection Act serves as an exception to Posse Comitatus, allowing military deployment when deemed necessary by the president.
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