Judge halts Trump's National Guard move to Los Angeles

Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump must terminate the federalized deployment of California National Guard troops in Los Angeles.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer found the ongoing presence of roughly 100 troops illegal and without justification that initially were sent by the Trump administration to address summer immigration protests.

"The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances," Breyer said. "Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one."

It's the second time Breyer has ruled on the issue against the Trump White House.

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The judge ordered return of control back over to California's Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and rumored 2028 presidential candidate.

It represents a legal setback for the White House but the administration has signaled an appeal is likely.

Breyer, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, stayed his ruling until Monday to give the U.S. Department of Justice time to file its appeal.

This summer, Trump directed thousands of troops to Los Angeles to quell occasionally violent protests in one of several Democratic-led cities where the president deployed federal forces.

It prompted a swift lawsuit by Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta in opposition.

Breyer's Wednesday ruling blocked an extension that would have maintained federal control over 300 California National Guard troops until February. Of those, 200 were deployed to Oregon, while the rest remained in Southern California.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the president's emergency appeal over Illinois troop deployment, while related lawsuits from Trump's federalization in Portland, Chicago and in the nation's capital remain in a lower court.

"Without a demonstration that the President's ability to execute the law is currently being impeded at the time of deployment, he lacks adequate grounds for federalization," Breyer wrote in his 35-page ruling.

This week in Washington

President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington on Tuesday. Trump said people were "starting to learn" the benefits of his tariff regime. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo