A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles. He ordered the troops to be returned to California's governor’s control. In June, Trump sent thousands of National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles after protests over increased immigration raids. US District Judge Charles Breyer said the Trump administration did not prove that protests justified taking federal control of the state's National Guard. Judge Breyer noted that the Trump administration still controlled 300 California National Guard troops six months after they were federalised. He rejected the argument that courts should not interfere with the president’s control of state troops during emergencies. "The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances," Judge Breyer wrote. "Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one." The judge’s order will take effect on 15 December, allowing time for the Trump administration to appeal. The BBC has reached out to the White House for comment. This year, Trump deployed National Guard troops to multiple cities including Portland and Washington DC, facing similar legal challenges. California Governor Gavin Newsom sued soon after the June deployment, but a court of appeals sided with the Trump administration. Newsom filed a new lawsuit in November, noting the protests had mostly ended and troops were no longer needed. Trump’s lawyers argued troops should remain as federal immigration agents were still targeted. Judge Breyer questioned the need for troops after months, saying, "I think experience teaches us that crises come and crises go." He also said the administration was "effectively creating a national police force made up of state troops" by moving California’s troops to other states. Trump has defended his use of the National Guard to control violence, crime, and support deportation efforts in Democratic-run cities.