1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my grave concern over President Trump's attempts to deploy the National Guard to various US cities without proper justification or legal authority. This unprecedented use of military force against American citizens and residents poses a significant threat to our civil liberties and democratic principles. The President has repeatedly tried to circumvent the normal process for deploying the National Guard, typically activated by state governors for natural disasters or large protests. Instead, he is invoking a rarely-used provision of US military law (10 US Code § 12406) to justify these deployments, claiming they are necessary to quell violence and crack down on crime in Democratic-controlled cities. Several Democratic governors have rightly opposed these deployments, stating they are unnecessary and may escalate tensions. Legal challenges have already been filed, including a lawsuit by Illinois to block troop deployment to Chicago and a federal judge's temporary block on National Guard deployment to Portland, Oregon. The use of military force against civilians, particularly in response to protests, sets a dangerous precedent that undermines our constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. It is crucial that we maintain a clear separation between military and civilian law enforcement, especially in non-emergency situations. I urge you to take immediate action to prevent these unwarranted deployments. Please support legislation that clarifies and limits the circumstances under which the President can federalize National Guard troops, ensuring that such power is used only in genuine cases of invasion or rebellion, not as a tool for political intimidation or suppression of dissent. Our democracy depends on respecting the rights of citizens and residents, and on maintaining proper checks and balances on executive power. I ask that you stand firm in defending these principles and oppose any attempts to militarize our cities without clear and pressing need. The safety and constitutional rights of your constituents are at stake, and your leadership on this issue is crucial.