Illinois sues Trump administration over sending National Guard to Chicago


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Summary

Illinois lawsuit

The State of Illinois filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its plan to deploy 300 National Guard troops to Chicago.

Legal limitations

The lawsuit comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from sending troops to Portland, Oregon.

Illinois sovereignty

The lawsuit claims the troop deployment "infringes on Illinois’s sovereignty and right to self-governance."


Full story

The State of Illinois has sued the Trump administration after President Donald Trump ordered troops to be deployed to Chicago, according to NBC News. The lawsuit, which aims to block the deployment, which allegedly “infringes on Illinois’ sovereignty and right to self-governance.”

The lawsuit, filed Monday, names Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll as defendants.

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“The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president’s favor,” the Illinois attorney general’s office wrote.

“The Trump administration’s illegal actions already have subjected and are subjecting Illinois to serious and irreparable harm,” the suit also says.

Troops ordered to Chicago

The lawsuit comes just two days after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said the administration was planning to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard.

The governor, a Democrat, said the Department of Defense gave him an “ultimatum,” telling him, “Call up your troops, or we will.”

In a statement to Straight Arrow News, the White House confirmed that Trump authorized troops to go to Illinois.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Trump authorized “300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets.”

“President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities,” Jackson added.

It wasn’t the first time Trump has said he would send federal law enforcement to Chicago to respond to crime.

Other National Guard deployments

Chicago is also not the only city the president is focusing on. He has also deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, CaliforniaPortland, Oregon and Washington, D.C.

However, over the weekend, a federal judge blocked Trump from sending troops to Portland.

The judge’s temporary order remains in effect until Oct. 18 as the Trump administration appeals the case

She accused the White House of circumventing federal law and violating the Constitution by using the military when no significant threat or insurrection existed.

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Why this story matters

A federal lawsuit filed by Illinois challenges the Trump administration's decision to deploy troops to Chicago, raising issues regarding state sovereignty and the limits of federal authority in responding to perceived lawlessness.

Federal vs. state authority

The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between state governments and federal actions, particularly regarding the deployment of federal forces without state consent.

Use of military in domestic affairs

The story examines the deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities and questions the appropriateness and legality of using military forces in response to domestic incidents.

Constitutional and legal challenges

Legal arguments and court decisions featured in the article illustrate the broader constitutional debate over executive powers, state rights, and civil liberties.

SAN provides
Unbiased. Straight Facts.

Don’t just take our word for it.


Certified balanced reporting

According to media bias experts at AllSides

AllSides Certified Balanced May 2025

Transparent and credible

Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

Find out more

Sources

  1. NBC News

Sources

  1. NBC News

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