The state of Illinois has called on a federal judge to halt the deployment of the National Guard in the Chicago area, deeming the action a constitutional crisis. During a court hearing on March 14, 2024, the state’s attorney general’s office argued that the Trump administration disregarded a pending legal challenge when it sent troops to an immigration enforcement site. Lawyer Christopher Wells stated, “The government ploughed ahead anyway. Now, troops are here.”
The hearing took place in a packed federal courtroom in Chicago, where both state and city officials—led by Democratic leaders—asserted that President Donald Trump has overstepped his authority. They claim the president ignored their requests to keep the National Guard off the streets, a move they argue is unnecessary and illegal.
Public interest was high, prompting officials to open an overflow room equipped with a video feed of the proceedings. Eric Hamilton, a lawyer from the US Department of Justice, characterized the Chicago area as experiencing “tragic lawlessness.” He cited a recent incident in which a Border Patrol agent shot a woman after being surrounded by a group in a vehicle. Hamilton claimed, “Chicago is seeing a brazen new form of hostility from rioters targeting federal law enforcement.”
US District Judge April Perry expressed a nuanced view, suggesting that wearing gas masks may be reasonable for individuals at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago. “I, too, would wear a gas mask,” Perry remarked, “not because I’m trying to be violent but because I’m trying to protect myself.”
Hamilton attempted to clarify the National Guard’s role, asserting that their mission is to secure federal properties rather than to address broader crime issues in Chicago. Troops from both Texas and Illinois arrived earlier this week at a US Army Reserve Center in Elwood, located southwest of the city. All 500 troops have been activated under the US Northern Command for a period of 60 days. Some troops have been observed stationed behind portable fencing at the ICE facility in Broadview, which has seen sporadic confrontations between demonstrators and federal agents.
While the area remained calm, local police reported that some troops appeared to be resting in vans overnight. Broadview officials made a statement, saying, “We hope that they will extend the same courtesy in the coming days to Broadview residents who deserve a good night’s sleep, too.”
In response to the deployment, Chicago and Illinois filed a lawsuit on March 11, 2024, asserting that the federal action was both unnecessary and illegal. President Trump has frequently criticized Chicago, labeling it a lawless “hellhole” despite statistical evidence showing a significant reduction in crime this year. The lawsuit contends that protests at the ICE facility have “never come close to stopping federal immigration enforcement,” framing the deployment as part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting jurisdictions it opposes.
Furthermore, on the same day as the Illinois hearing, a federal appeals court was scheduled to review whether Trump had the authority to deploy 200 Oregon National Guard troops. The deployment was planned for Portland, where protests have occurred outside an ICE building. Like Illinois leaders, local officials in Oregon have stated that the troops are neither wanted nor needed.
In a related development, US District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order blocking the deployment of Oregon’s guard troops after the president mobilized California National Guard members to Portland just hours following the initial ruling. In total, two dozen states with Democratic leadership have expressed solidarity with the legal challenges posed by California and Oregon.
As the situation unfolds, the legal and political ramifications of the National Guard deployment in Chicago continue to capture national attention. Public safety and civil liberties remain at the forefront of this contentious dispute between state and federal authorities.
