(MENAFN) A Tennessee court on Monday ruled that Governor Bill Lee’s deployment of the National Guard to Memphis—carried out at President Donald Trump’s request—was unlawful.

The court determined that Lee lacked legal authority to send military forces into the city, noting that Tennessee law allows such deployments only under specific conditions. The ruling cited the absence of a “grave emergency,” a “disaster,” or a request from local officials, all required by law.

The case was brought by a coalition of local and state leaders represented by Democracy Forward, the National Immigration Law Center, and Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, PLC.

In a joint statement, the coalition said the decision protects democratic principles:
"We brought this case because Tennesseans deserve leaders who follow the law, respect our Constitution, and protect—not undermine—our democratic institutions. Today’s ruling makes clear that no governor or president can deploy military force into our communities without legal authority, public accountability, or a genuine emergency. Military power must never be used as a political tool. Memphis deserves public safety, community investment, and democratic decision-making—not unlawful militarization."

Trump previously deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, DC, and sent hundreds of US Marines to Los Angeles in June to quell unrest linked to his immigration crackdown.

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