Illinois Sues to Block Trump’s National Guard Deployment Amidst Ongoing Arrivals

Illinois and Chicago have filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago, even as troops are reportedly already en route. A judge on Monday declined to issue a temporary restraining order, setting a new hearing for Thursday, but cautioned federal lawyers to ‘take a pause’ on the deployment.

The lawsuit, initiated by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and including the state and city as plaintiffs, argues that the deployment of federalized troops is ‘patently unlawful’ and an ‘unconstitutional invasion.’ Raoul contends it will lead to ‘additional unrest,’ ‘mistrust of police,’ and harm the state’s economy. He cited constitutional clauses granting Congress sole authority over troop deployment and the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement.

Despite the legal challenge, it was revealed in court that Texas National Guard troops are already headed to Illinois, with potential deployment as early as Tuesday or Wednesday. The Illinois National Guard has also been ordered to report for training on Tuesday. Governor J.B. Pritzker vehemently criticized the administration’s actions, calling them a ‘power grab’ and vowing to resist. Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed this sentiment, stating Chicago ‘will not be used as a political prop.’

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with other Illinois Democrats, have urged President Trump to reverse his decision, calling the use of the military to sow ‘fear and chaos’ unconstitutional. A federal memo obtained over the weekend indicated up to 300 federalized Illinois National Guard members would be deployed to protect federal property, with an additional 400 from Texas also slated for Chicago and Portland, Oregon. A federal judge previously blocked deployment to Portland on Sunday.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.