Appeals court allows Trump to keep National Guard in Los Angeles for now

Three-judge panel pauses lower court ruling blocking troop deployment during protests

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LOS ANGELES - A US appeals court on June 12 allowed US President Donald Trump to maintain his deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles amid protests over stepped-up immigration enforcement, pausing a lower court ruling that blocked the mobilization.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals' decision does not mean that the court will ultimately agree with Mr. Trump, but it does leave command of the National Guard with the President for now.

Earlier on June 12, San Francisco-based District Judge Charles Breyer found that Mr. Trump's deployment of the National Guard was unlawful. Judge Breyer had ordered the National Guard to return to the control of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had brought the case.

It was a brief victory for Mr. Newsom, as Judge Breyer's order was paused a short time later.

The three-judge panel that paused the ruling consisted of two judges appointed by Mr. Trump in his first term and one judge who was appointed by then Democratic president Joe Biden. The panel will hold a hearing on June 17 to consider the merits of Judge Breyer's order.