Michigan’s Preparedness Amid National Guard Deployment Concerns
In the face of potential federal troop deployments by President Donald Trump, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has expressed concerns about the possibility of National Guard troops being sent to Michigan cities. This comes as Trump has previously deployed soldiers to other major cities like Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago, despite opposition from the states’ Democratic governors.
Federal courts have occasionally pushed back on these deployments. A notable decision came in September when a judge ruled that Trump had violated the law with the LA deployment. A federal appeals court also recently permitted the federalization of Oregon National Guard troops but prevented their deployment to Portland.
Despite these legal challenges, Nessel has stated that her office is preparing for potential legal actions if troops are sent to Michigan. “It’s very fact-specific. So it’s not as though we can have pleadings that are 100% accurate now ready to be filed in the event that this occurs. But that doesn’t mean that we’re not preparing for this eventuality,” Nessel remarked in an interview.
The Trump administration claims these military deployments aim to support law enforcement and counter alleged insurrections. Nessel argues that this approach is counterproductive, as military personnel are not trained for the same scenarios as police officers. She suggests that such deployments disrupt local law enforcement efforts and erode public trust.
With ongoing protests organized by the No Kings campaign, Nessel advises demonstrators to remain peaceful to avoid giving Trump a reason to deploy troops in Michigan. “Protestors should do what they have been doing since Trump was sworn into office this second time. Which is to protest and to protest loudly. But to do so legally,” she advised.
Typically, a governor’s authorization is required to deploy a state’s National Guard. However, the Trump administration has been challenging this precedent by utilizing troops from other states. For instance, California troops were sent to Oregon, and Texas troops to Illinois.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office referred to a statement from the Democratic Governors Association, which criticizes the president’s actions as an abuse of power that undermines the mission of service members.
While some Republican governors, such as those from Tennessee and Louisiana, have embraced National Guard deployments, Vice President JD Vance suggested deploying them to Detroit. However, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent for governor, has stated his belief that such a deployment is unnecessary. He commented on the matter, expressing a lack of need for federal intervention.
—
Read More Michigan News
