Trump retains power over the California National Guard but may not deploy troops in Los Angeles for now, appeals panel rules.

A U.S. district judge blocked Trump from deploying the California National Guard in Los Angeles and said control of the Guard must be returned to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

While the decision did not remove the National Guard troops from the president’s control, it blocked him from using them in the nation’s second-largest city.

The order, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, is a blow to the Trump administration, and comes six months after the president in June deployed thousands of federalized National Guard troops to the city in response to a wave of immigration protests.

The judge has ordered control of the the troops, which were deployed in June, to be returned to California's governor.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said the Trump administration has made "clear that the only check" it wants "is a blank one."