A federal judge in Chicago has decided to temporarily halt U.S. President Donald Trump from sending hundreds of National Guard soldiers to Illinois. This decision comes after a similar deployment was blocked in Portland, Oregon. District Judge April Perry expressed concerns that allowing Guard troops in the state would exacerbate the situation, following a lengthy hearing involving lawyers from the U.S. government and Illinois, which had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the deployment.
The judge announced that a comprehensive written order will be released on Friday. Earlier on Thursday, National Guard soldiers were observed patrolling a suburban Chicago immigration facility that has been a focal point for protests in recent weeks. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court panel in San Francisco indicated a likelihood of overturning the ruling that blocked Trump’s deployment in Portland, potentially paving the way for soldiers to enter the city.
The outcomes of these legal battles hold significant implications for Trump’s ongoing efforts to deploy military personnel in U.S. cities against the objections of Democratic leaders. Government lawyers argued that the National Guard soldiers were essential to safeguard federal officers and property from demonstrators. However, Illinois and Oregon governors accused Trump of distorting peaceful protests to justify the deployments.
Judge Perry expressed skepticism regarding the government’s claims of violence at the immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois. She referred to a recent ruling in Chicago that restricted federal agents from using force to disperse crowds, highlighting concerns raised by protesters and journalists over injuries sustained at the Broadview center. Perry attributed the protests to the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, stating that deploying Guard soldiers would only escalate the situation further.
The order to block the National Guard deployment will remain in effect until at least October 23. The White House confirmed its intention to appeal the decision, with a spokesperson emphasizing Trump’s stance against lawlessness in American cities. Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois also weighed in, asserting that there is no justification for deploying the National Guard in cities like Chicago.
In a separate development, Guard soldiers were seen inside the gate at the ICE center in Broadview as protesters gathered outside. At the San Francisco appellate court, arguments revolved around the portrayal of Portland’s situation by Trump, with one judge remarking that the descriptions seemed detached from reality. The discussion also touched on the role of the National Guard in domestic deployments and the extent of presidential authority in such matters.
Trump reiterated his plans to expand troop deployments in U.S. cities to address perceived violence, citing ongoing efforts in Memphis and intentions to move to Chicago and other locations. The president emphasized the need to confront what he labeled as left-wing domestic terrorism and violence, including referencing the anti-fascist movement known as antifa. Legal challenges to previous Guard deployments underscore the contentious nature of Trump’s actions in this regard.