Domestic Deployment of U.S. Military

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A demonstrator walks in front of a row of military police members wearing riot gear as they push back demonstrators outside of the White House, June 1, 2020 in Washington D.C.

Statement of Homeland and National Security Leaders

Former Republican and Democratic cabinet members and other senior officials speak out about protests, use of the military, racial justice, and policing.
Trump walks with US Attorney General William Barr (L), US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper (C), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark A. Milley (R), and others from the White House to St. John's Church where tear gas was used to clear the crowd on June 1, 2020 in Washington DC. Only one person in the background has a face mask. No one is social distanced.

The Untold Power of Bill Barr to Direct US Military Forces in Case of “Civil Unrest”

Whether deployed against protests for racial justice or deployed to interfere with free and fair elections in November, the US military operations would be led by Bill Barr, not…
Members of the National Guard join police in holding a line on the fourth day of protests on May 29, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The President and the Domestic Deployment of the Military: Answers to Five Key Questions

Can President Trump use the military without governors' consent? What are the rules for the use of force?
Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assist the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in setting up the Oregon Medical Station (OMS) at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, March 19, 2020. The soldiers do not wear face masks and set up cots in a large room.

Military’s Response to the Coronavirus Crisis: Top 10 Principles

Ten key principles to follow as policymakers seek to utilize the military in a manner that is innovative, responsive to the crisis, and consistent with the rule of law.
National Guard troops stand by as people wait to be tested for COVID-19 at New York state’s first drive through COVID-19 mobile testing center at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, New York on March 13, 2020. The ground is wet and the sky is overcast. Reflections of the troops and testing tents can be seen in the water on the ground.

The Coronavirus, Emergency Powers, and the Military: What You Need to Know

The global coronavirus crisis continues to unfold at lightning speed, disrupting travel, the economy, and everyday life. In response to the pandemic, President Donald Trump declared…
U.S. Army troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border line up for a meal at a base near the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge on November 22, 2018 in Donna, Texas.

Legal Analysis of “Cabinet Memo” on the Military’s Role at Southern Border

Avoidance of military involvement in civil society is part of America's political culture and heritage. The new White House order on U.S. Army role at the southwest border threatens…

Update: The Military, the Mexican Border and Posse Comitatus

Unlike the earlier deployment of National Guard personnel, the use of federal forces raises new issues concerning what they are permitted to do.

The Military, the Mexican Border and Posse Comitatus:  Four Key Takeaways

The four core legal issues to watch as a “militarized border” implementation plan develops. Written by former Navy commander, serving as a tactical jet aviator and attorney…

Why Posse Comitatus is Not Immediately Applicable to the Military’s Mission in Puerto Rico

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States where 3.4 million U.S. citizens reside, is suffering a humanitarian crisis following Hurricane Maria. Lt. Gen.…
Just Security

Ninth Circuit Grants En Banc Rehearing in Posse Comitatus / Unlawful Surveillance Case

Back in September, I wrote about the Ninth Circuit’s fascinating decision in United States v. Dreyer, which applied the exclusionary rule to suppress evidence obtained…
Just Security

The Posse Comitatus Act, Unlawful Surveillance, and the Exclusionary Rule

Most students of U.S. national security law are familiar with the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) — an 1878 statute that subjects to criminal punishment anyone who, “except…
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