A federal judge in Chicago has decided to temporarily halt President Donald Trump from deploying hundreds of National Guard soldiers in Illinois. U.S. District Judge April Perry expressed concerns that allowing Guard troops in the state could exacerbate tensions, following a legal battle between the U.S. government and Illinois over the deployment.
The judge indicated that her detailed written order would be released the next day. Earlier that day, Guard soldiers were observed patrolling near a suburban Chicago immigration facility that has been a focal point for protests. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court panel in San Francisco seemed inclined to overturn the ruling blocking Trump’s deployment of troops to Portland, potentially paving the way for soldiers to enter the city.
The outcomes of these legal cases could have significant ramifications for Trump’s efforts to deploy military personnel in U.S. cities against the objections of Democratic leaders. Government lawyers argued in both courts that the National Guard soldiers were necessary to safeguard federal officers and property from protesters. However, Illinois and Oregon governors accused Trump of distorting peaceful protests to justify the troop deployments.
Judge Perry raised doubts about the government’s claims of violence during protests at the Broadview, Illinois immigration facility. She referred to a separate ruling that restricted federal agents from using force to disperse crowds. Perry criticized the behavior of ICE officers for triggering the protests and stated that deploying Guard soldiers in Broadview would only escalate the situation.
The judge’s order will remain in effect until at least October 23, with the White House planning to appeal. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized that the court’s decision confirmed the absence of a credible rebellion in the state. Meanwhile, Guard soldiers remained stationed at the ICE center in Broadview amidst ongoing protests.
In San Francisco, an Oregon assistant attorney general challenged Trump’s depiction of Portland as being engulfed in violence, calling it disconnected from reality. The appellate court judges debated whether they should consider past protests that disrupted ICE operations in Portland. Notably, the National Guard primarily responds to natural disasters and is typically under the authority of governors rather than engaging in civilian law enforcement.
Trump has hinted at expanding troop deployments to combat alleged violence in U.S. cities, having previously deployed troops in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Memphis. He reiterated his intentions during a cabinet meeting, emphasizing the need to confront what he described as left-wing domestic terrorism. The administration is challenging a previous ruling that deemed Trump’s deployment of Guard troops in Los Angeles illegal.