National Guard troops on patrol near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington SAUL LOEB

President Donald Trump's deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in the US capital is unlawful, a federal judge ruled on Thursday.

District Court Judge Jia Cobb ordered an end to the deployment but stayed her order for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to file an appeal.

The Republican president has sent National Guard troops to Democratic-run Washington, Los Angeles and Memphis to combat crime and help enforce his crackdown on undocumented migrants.

Federal judges have temporarily blocked the deployment of troops in two other Democratic-controlled cities -- Chicago and Portland -- and the Supreme Court is expected to deliver the final word soon on whether the actions are lawful.

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