Montgomery, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the state’s participation in a 19-state amicus brief in support of former President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard during civil unrest in Los Angeles, California. The brief was filed in response to legal challenges over the federal government’s intervention following a series of violent protests related to immigration enforcement.
The filing argues that President Trump acted within his constitutional and statutory authority under Title 10 of the U.S. Code when he called National Guard troops into federal service. According to the brief, this move aimed to protect federal law enforcement officers and property after local authorities were allegedly overwhelmed by rioters.
The brief describes a period of escalating unrest in Los Angeles, including attacks on federal officers, damage to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) buildings, and the destruction of vehicles. It contends that California officials failed to act decisively and even sought to block federal intervention through emergency litigation, which the brief characterizes as politically motivated.
In a public statement, Attorney General Marshall emphasized the difference between lawful protest and criminal violence, stating that while peaceful protest is a constitutional right, “arson, assault, and anarchy are not protected forms of expression.”
Marshall added that President Trump’s actions were necessary to “restore order and protect lives” during a time when, according to the brief, state and local officials were unable or unwilling to respond effectively.
Alabama is joined in the brief by the attorneys general of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, the Territory of Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
The brief was submitted as part of an ongoing legal case evaluating the limits of federal and state authority during emergencies involving civil unrest and immigration enforcement conflicts.
