A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles and ordered the troops to be returned to the state governor's control.
In June, Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops to the California city in the wake of protests against his administration's intensified immigration raids.
US District Judge Charles Breyer stated that the Trump administration had failed to demonstrate that the protests warranted federalizing the state's National Guard.
Breyer highlighted that over 300 California National Guard troops remained under federal control six months after their federalization.
The judge also dismissed the Trump administration's argument that courts should refrain from intervening in presidential decisions on managing state National Guard troops during emergencies. He emphasized the importance of checks and balances designed by the Founding Fathers.
“Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one,” Breyer emphasized in his ruling.
The enforcement of the ruling is suspended until December 15, giving the Trump's administration time to appeal to a higher court.
The BBC contacted the White House for comments on the ruling.
This year, Trump has deployed National Guard troops to various cities, including Portland and Washington DC, prompting legal challenges from state and local officials.
Governor Gavin Newsom had previously sued over the deployment following the June order, but earlier courts sided with the administration, justifying the federalization due to the protests in Los Angeles. However, Newsom recently challenged the necessity of the troops, as the protests had diminished considerably.
In a recent hearing, the administration argued for the troops' continued presence, claiming federal immigration agents were still being targeted. Breyer, however, questioned the need for a prolonged military presence, noting the transient nature of crises.
Judge Breyer expressed concern over creating what he called a 'national police force' made up of state troops, highlighting that Trump's deployment strategy across various states poses significant implications.
All 50 US states, along with the District of Columbia, possess National Guard contingents. President Trump asserts that the deployment of these troops is vital to maintaining order in Democrat-led cities and tackling crime issues as part of his immigration enforcement initiatives.
