Judge blocks Trump's deployment of National Guard to Chicago
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Members of the Texas National Guard carry rifles and riot shields at an army reserve training facility on Oct. 7 in Elwood, Illinois. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
President Trump is temporarily barred from sending the National Guard to Illinois to aid his immigration crackdown after a federal judge in part granted the state a temporary restraining order against the deployment.
Why it matters: The ruling will halt the president's plans — for now. The White House has indicated it will appeal the decision.
- Trump could also tap other executive authority to mobilize troops to support his immigration crackdown.
Driving the news: Judge April Perry in her oral ruling Thursday, granted Illinois and co-plaintiffs in part, an emergency motion to stop the president from deploying troops.
- Her written ruling is expected Friday.
State of play: National Guard troops from Illinois and Texas have been posted in southwest suburban Elwood since earlier this week.
- Even before troops from out of state arrived, Illinois and Chicago sued the Trump administration, arguing in the suit that the deployment was "unlawful and dangerous."
Catch up quick: About 500 Texas and Illinois National Guard soldiers arrived in the Chicago area this week for an initial period of 60 days "to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property," U.S. Northern Command spokesperson Becky Farmer told Axios in a statement.
The other side: Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claim troops are needed to protect federal law enforcement, especially after they've clashed with protesters and residents near an ICE processing facility in suburban Broadview and last weekend on the city's southwest side.
- "Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like [Gov. JB] Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in an emailed statement Thursday evening.
- "President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities and we expect to be vindicated by a higher court."
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement this week, "If J.B. Pritzker actually walked the streets of his own city, he would see domestic terrorists and violent rioters attacking police officers and the scourge of violent crime as a direct result of his own policies."
Of note: Trump this week called for Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to be jailed for "failing to protect Ice officers."
What's next: The temporary restraining order expires Oct. 23, and a hearing is scheduled for the day before to determine if it should be extended another 14 days.
What we're watching: It remains to be seen where troops will go from here.
More from Axios:
- Judge blocks federal agents from using force on journalists in Chicago
- How Trump could use the Insurrection Act to send troops to American cities
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
