Illinois has initiated a lawsuit aiming to prevent the deployment of federalized National Guard troops in Chicago. This legal action came shortly after a federal judge blocked a similar deployment in Portland, Oregon. The case highlights the ongoing disputes regarding the authority of the president to deploy military forces within U.S. cities.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges that President Donald Trump‘s actions constitute an unlawful and dangerous escalation of his “War” on Chicago and Illinois. Officials in both Illinois and Oregon argue that military intervention is unnecessary and exacerbates tensions rather than alleviating them. The lawsuit states, “The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president’s favor.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, indicated that approximately 300 National Guard troops from Illinois were to be federalized and sent to Chicago, alongside 400 troops from Texas. Pritzker labeled the potential deployment as “Trump’s invasion” and called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to halt the operation. In contrast, Abbott defended the crackdown, stating it was necessary to protect federal workers involved in immigration enforcement.
The deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago is reminiscent of the tumultuous events of 1968, which had a lasting impact on the city. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed Trump’s authorization for the deployment, citing “ongoing violent riots and lawlessness” as justification.
In the backdrop of this situation, armed border patrol agents have been making arrests in Chicago, particularly in areas with significant immigrant populations. This has raised alarms among residents, especially following an intensified immigration enforcement effort that began in the previous month. In response to these developments, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order prohibiting federal immigration agents from using city property as staging areas for enforcement operations.
Protests against federal immigration enforcement have been frequent outside an immigration facility in Chicago. Recently, authorities reported 13 arrests during these demonstrations. Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson has imposed restrictions on protest hours, allowing them only from 09:00 to 18:00 due to safety concerns.
In a separate incident, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that agents shot a woman in Chicago, claiming it occurred after they were “rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars.” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling indicated that the agents acted reasonably under the circumstances.
The situation in Portland is equally tense. On Sunday, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order against the deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon from any state, including California. Immergut, appointed by Trump, expressed disbelief at the administration’s attempts to deploy troops to Portland just hours after her ruling against it.
Despite the narrative of rising crime, data shows that violent crime rates, including homicides, have actually decreased in many areas, including Portland. Homicides from January to June in 2024 dropped by 51 percent compared to the same period in 2023.
Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has discussed sending troops to ten cities, including Baltimore, Memphis, and various locations in California. A federal judge previously ruled in September that the administration “willfully” violated federal law by deploying guard troops in Los Angeles during protests related to immigration raids.
As the legal battle unfolds, the implications of military presence in American cities continue to raise concerns among officials and residents alike.
