A federal judge in Chicago has temporarily halted U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Illinois, marking another setback in his controversial effort to send military forces into U.S. cities. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge April Perry, follows a similar case in Oregon where a federal court blocked Trump’s deployment to Portland. Perry said the presence of troops would “add fuel to the fire,” emphasizing that protests near an immigration center in Broadview, Illinois, have been largely peaceful.
The state of Illinois, led by Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, sued the Trump administration, arguing that the deployment was unnecessary and politically motivated. The judge’s decision will remain in effect until at least October 23. The White House quickly announced plans to appeal, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson asserting that Trump “will not turn a blind eye to lawlessness” and expressing confidence in a higher court’s reversal.
In a social media post, Pritzker celebrated the ruling, declaring that “Donald Trump is not a king” and that there was “no credible evidence of a rebellion” in Illinois. The case underscores growing tensions between the federal government and Democratic state leaders over the use of military forces in domestic affairs.
Meanwhile, a federal appeals court in San Francisco appeared inclined to lift the Oregon ruling, potentially allowing Guard troops to enter Portland. Trump has vowed to expand deployments to other cities, citing alleged “left-wing domestic terrorism” by groups such as antifa. Critics argue the president is exploiting isolated incidents to justify unconstitutional federal interventions.
Legal experts note that the National Guard, typically controlled by state governors, is not meant for civilian law enforcement under U.S. law. Trump’s actions, they warn, test the limits of presidential authority and deepen partisan divides over law and order in America.