Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined other state attorneys general in filing amicus briefs supporting legal challenges by Illinois and Oregon against the Trump Administration’s deployment of the National Guard for civil law enforcement purposes. The challenges argue that the federal government’s actions violate the principle that the military should remain under civilian control and not be used to police American cities.

The amicus briefs state that the president’s use of the military has increased safety concerns and threatened First Amendment rights. The filings also argue that deploying federalized troops undermines the authority of local law enforcement and infringes on state sovereignty.

“President Trump is trying to weaponize the military against the very people he swore to serve, a clear violation of the Constitution,” Nessel said. “Law enforcement belongs in the hands of trained civilian authorities, not soldiers torn from their families to patrol American streets. This effort to militarize our cities disrespects our National Guard, undermines state sovereignty, and threatens the rights of every citizen. I am committed to stopping this dangerous and unlawful abuse of power.”

The states argue that the National Guard is needed for essential services such as disaster response, counter-drug operations, and cybersecurity assistance. The federalization of the Guard, they contend, removes personnel from these important duties, leaving states unable to fill the gap.

Attorneys general from several states, including Nessel, are preparing to respond to further federal deployments to states such as Oregon, Illinois, California, and the District of Columbia.