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."