AsianFin -- A federal appeals court has allowed former President Donald Trump to retain control over roughly 4,000 California National Guard members, siding with his administration in a legal clash with the state’s Democratic leadership.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Trump’s request to pause a lower court ruling that had ordered him to relinquish command of the federally activated troops. The guardsmen were deployed to reinforce security in Los Angeles amid unrest tied to immigration enforcement.

In an unsigned decision, the court said it was “likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority” when invoking federal powers earlier this month. The panel rejected arguments from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who contended Trump had overstepped legal boundaries by seizing control of a portion of the state’s militia.