The State of Illinois and the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking a federal court order to block the Trump administration’s plan to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the city.
This legal action was initiated as troops prepared for deployment and just hours after a federal judge in Portland, Oregon, issued a temporary restraining order to block a similar deployment there.
The unfolding situation is part of a broader conflict between the Trump administration, which characterizes the Democrat-led cities as struggling with “ongoing violent riots and lawlessness,” and local officials who argue military intervention is unnecessary and may be worsening tensions.
READ: Trump Deploys California National Guard To Oregon After Judge’s Ruling
Key Details of the Deployment and Lawsuit
The planned deployment to Chicago was set to involve the federalization of approximately 300 Illinois National Guard troops, along with the deployment of 400 National Guard troops from Texas.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who has publicly opposed the move, stated the action amounted to an “invasion.”
He called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to halt the deployment of his state’s troops. Governor Abbott, a Republican, defended the action, saying the crackdown was necessary to protect federal workers involved in increased immigration enforcement in the city.
The lawsuit filed by Illinois and Chicago alleges that the deployment is “unlawful and dangerous,” arguing that the federal government is overstepping its authority. It contends that citizens “should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military” merely because local leadership is at odds with the president.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed that President Trump authorized the use of Illinois National Guard members, citing the need to quell unrest that local leaders have not controlled.
Local Concerns and Related Incidents
The increased presence of federal agents, particularly armed Border Patrol agents conducting immigration raids in immigrant-heavy and largely Latino areas, has amplified concerns among Chicago residents.
Protests have frequently occurred near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, leading to the reported arrest of 13 protesters on Friday.
In one highly publicized incident, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that federal agents shot a woman on Saturday morning on the southwest side of Chicago.
The department stated the shooting occurred after Border Patrol agents were “rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars,” forcing them to fire defensively when a suspect allegedly tried to run them over. No law enforcement officers were reported to be seriously injured.
READ: Illinois Gov. Pritzker Dismisses ‘Propaganda’ As DHS Alleges Ambush Of ICE Agents Near Chicago
National Pattern and Portland Precedent
The deployment to Chicago is part of a pattern under the Trump administration, which has sent or discussed sending troops to approximately ten cities, primarily those led by Democrats.
In Portland, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order that blocked the deployment of National Guard troops from California and Oregon to the city. The judge questioned whether the administration was attempting to bypass her earlier order blocking the use of Oregon’s own Guard members.
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Local officials in Portland have disputed the administration’s claims of widespread lawlessness, noting that crime data shows a 51% decrease in homicides this year compared to the same period in 2024. They suggest the president’s portrayal of the city often relies on outdated imagery from 2020 protests.
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