The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 forbids the use of U.S. military forces in domestic law enforcement, intended to prevent federal abuses during Reconstruction. Recently, this law was referenced amidst President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles for protests, despite the lack of rebellion or invasion. Although there are exceptions allowing military deployment, such as the Insurrection Act, none apply to the current situation. The historical context of the law reveals its original intent to limit federal power over civil rights enforcement, an aspect often overlooked in media portrayals.
"The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits the U.S. military from conducting law enforcement operations in the United States, meant to prevent abuses of power in the South."
"The law was designed to curb the federal government’s use of its military to enforce civil rights laws in the post-Reconstruction South, a fact rarely acknowledged."
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