CHICAGO — In a showdown between state leadership and the Trump administration, Illinois leaders have gone to court seeking to block the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago. This legal challenge unfolds amid an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the third-largest city in the U.S.
This legal action comes shortly after a judge granted a restraining order against the deployment of Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed outrage over the proposed deployment, stating that it equates to 'Trump's invasion' of the state.
The lawsuit alleges that President Trump’s actions are unlawful and detrimental, claiming that military intervention is unwarranted given the current circumstances. The lawsuit contends, 'The American people should not have to live under the threat of occupation by the military.'
Federal officials, however, argue that such measures are necessary due to ongoing violence and lawlessness that local leaders have failed to control. They cite the deployment as vital for the protection of federal workers involved in immigration enforcement operations across Chicago.
Pritzker indicated that about 300 Illinois Guardsmen and 400 troops from Texas are slated for deployment. In response, he called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to prevent this action.
Moreover, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced an executive order prohibiting federal immigration agents from using city-owned properties for operational staging, further signaling a stand against federal involvement in local immigration matters.
The heightened presence of armed federal agents in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods has elicited community concerns, with protesters rallying against the enforcement actions that began last month.
As tensions continue to rise, officials from both sides have amplified their rhetoric, signaling that this clash is not just about local enforcement but a broader struggle over federal authority and state autonomy in matters of immigration.
