A judge has temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area for two weeks, determining there is no credible evidence of an imminent threat of rebellion in Illinois. This ruling marks a notable victory for local and state Democratic officials, who have been in a verbal altercation with President Trump over the military's role in urban centers.
U.S. District Judge April Perry made her remarks from the bench without providing extensive details on the specific portions of the request she was granting. The lawsuit was filed by officials from Chicago and Illinois on Monday to stop the mobilization of troops from Illinois and Texas. Some troops were already stationed at a U.S. Immigration office in Broadview, a Chicago suburb, when the judge heard the arguments on Thursday.
Perry criticized the Department of Homeland Security, suggesting its actions are driven by President Trump's negative sentiments toward Illinois's leaders and questioned the federal narrative regarding protests at the immigrant detention center in Broadview.
City and state officials have labeled the deployments both unnecessary and unlawful, with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson actively opposing the use of the Guard. They asserted that protests linked to the facility never posed a significant threat to federal immigration activities.
Trump has previously suggested that Chicago suffers from rampant crime, despite statistics indicating a notable reduction in criminal activity.
The federal government's endeavors to deploy troops are facing opposition not just in Illinois but also in other states, as legal challenges arise questioning the limits of presidential authority to deploy the National Guard under circumstances that some deem politically driven.
