California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency court motion Tuesday to block US President Donald Trump from deploying military forces for law enforcement in the state.

They say that the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines violates federal law, undermines state authority, and exacerbates public unrest. The move followed a lawsuit challenging Trump's directive to federalize the California National Guard, according to Reuters.

Officials argue that the unlawful employment of troops without state approval threatens public safety and democracy, and that local law enforcement, not the military, should conduct civilian policing.