National Guard Deployments: Legal Battles in Tennessee and West Virginia

In Tennessee and West Virginia, courts are set to examine the legality of National Guard deployments. The focus is on whether governors have the authority to send troops to Memphis and Washington, D. C. In Memphis, the debate centers around Governor Bill Lee's decision to deploy the National Guard. Critics argue that the state constitution restricts such deployments to cases of rebellion or invasion, requiring legislative approval. Since their arrival, troops have been patrolling neighborhoods, though they lack arrest powers. The deployment was part of a federal task force aimed at reducing crime. Mayor Paul Young, while not opposing the task force, did not request the Guard's presence. The task force has made significant arrests and issued numerous citations. Meanwhile, in West Virginia, a judge is reviewing Governor Patrick Morrisey's decision to send up to 300 National Guard members to Washington, D. C. A civic group claims the governor overstepped his authority, arguing that state law limits out-of-state deployments to specific emergencies. Morrisey's office defends the deployment under federal law. The judge has ordered the state to focus on the legality of the governor's actions. The deployment could last until late November. The deployments are part of a broader effort to combat crime in the nation's capital. Despite a declared crime emergency by President Trump, the Justice Department reports that violent crime in D. C. is at a 30-year low. Over 2, 300 Guard troops from various states have been patrolling under federal command, supported by hundreds of federal agents. These legal battles highlight the ongoing tension between state and federal authorities over the use of the National Guard. The outcomes could set precedents for future deployments and the balance of power between governors and the federal government.