Illinois, Chicago File lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s National Guard Deployments
CHICAGO - Illinois and the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration’s recent authorization of National Guard deployments to the state, escalating a conflict over federal intervention in local affairs. The legal action comes two days after President Donald Trump authorized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard to Chicago to ”protect federal officers and assets,” a tactic previously employed against protests in Los angeles and Washington, D.C. targeting U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The lawsuit seeks to halt further federalization and deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois and to declare the broader practice of federalizing National Guard units unlawful. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the administration’s plans on Sunday, after learning of a proposed deployment of an additional 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois and Oregon, characterizing the move as an ”invasion.”
The complaint, filed in a U.S. District Court in Illinois, alleges the deployments are politically motivated, citing President Trump’s history of “threatening and derogatory” comments regarding Chicago and Illinois. Named as defendants are President Trump,Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem, and Department of Defense Sec.Pete Hegseth.
This legal challenge mirrors a similar case concerning the administration’s attempt to deploy federalized National Guard troops to Portland,oregon. Officials in Oregon and California previously objected, and a Trump-appointed federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard from across the U.S. to Portland.
