CHICAGO — October 9, 2025 — A growing legal and political showdown erupted this week as Illinois officials urged a federal judge to block the Trump administration’s National Guard deployment in the Chicago area, calling it an unconstitutional power grab and a direct challenge to state sovereignty.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office argued in court Thursday that the White House “plowed ahead” with troop deployment despite pending legal challenges, turning the city into the latest battleground over presidential authority and domestic military intervention.

At the heart of the dispute is President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago and surrounding suburbs to support immigration enforcement operations and combat what he described as “rampant lawlessness.”

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Governor J.B. Pritzker, both Democrats, filed an emergency motion this week, calling the move a “constitutional crisis.” They argue the president overstepped his authority by activating the Guard without the state’s consent — a requirement under most interpretations of federal law.

“The administration ignored the law and the state’s objections,” Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wells said during Thursday’s hearing. “The federal government plowed ahead anyway. Now, troops are here, and the Constitution is at risk.”

The courtroom overflowed with spectators as tensions ran high. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was among those in attendance, calling the deployment “an insult to local leadership and the people of Illinois.”

Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice pushed back, insisting that the deployment is lawful and limited in scope. They claim the Guard’s mission is to protect federal property and support federal agents at high-risk sites — not to take over local policing.

“Chicago is facing a new level of hostility toward federal officers,” said DOJ lawyer Eric Hamilton, referencing recent incidents near an ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois, where demonstrators clashed with agents. “We’re not talking about peaceful protests anymore. There is a real threat of violence.”

Judge April Perry appeared skeptical of both sides at times. When the government argued that protesters wearing gas masks indicated violent intent, the judge countered, “I, too, would wear a gas mask — not to fight, but to protect myself.”

Even as the court hearing unfolded, about 500 Guard members — some from Texas, others from Illinois — were seen stationed at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, southwest of Chicago. They were deployed under U.S. Northern Command for a 60-day mission.

A smaller contingent was visible outside the ICE facility in Broadview, a frequent site of protests against federal immigration policies. Despite fears of confrontation, the scene remained mostly calm on Wednesday night. Local police noted that troops were “sleeping undisturbed” in their vehicles.

In a lighthearted statement, Broadview officials remarked, “We hope they’ll extend the same courtesy to our residents who also deserve a good night’s sleep.”

State and city leaders argue the deployment is part of a broader campaign of political retaliation. The lawsuit claims the administration is deliberately targeting Democratic-run cities — including Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles — for refusing to cooperate with federal immigration crackdowns.

President Trump fired back Wednesday, saying Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson should be jailed for failing to protect federal agents. He accused local leaders of “siding with criminals over law enforcement.”

Governor Pritzker responded in kind, calling the remarks “authoritarian” and warning that “Illinois will not bow to political intimidation or unconstitutional militarization.”

The Illinois lawsuit joins similar legal battles in Oregon and California, where federal judges have already questioned Trump’s authority to seize control of state National Guard units. The challenges center on whether the president can invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows active-duty or National Guard troops to respond to “rebellion” or “defiance of federal law.”

Legal experts say the Illinois case could become a test of the limits of presidential power under both the Posse Comitatus Act and the Tenth Amendment, which preserves state control over local law enforcement.

“This is more than a political fight — it’s a constitutional one,” said University of Illinois law professor Dana Hall. “If the court sides with Illinois, it could redefine how far a president can go in using military power on U.S. soil.”

Judge Perry is expected to rule within days on Illinois’ request for an emergency injunction to halt the National Guard deployment. Her decision could have sweeping implications for both the Trump administration and other states resisting federal intervention.

Meanwhile, Guard troops remain stationed at multiple sites across Cook and Will counties, standing by for orders — even as state officials push to send them home.

For Illinois residents, the stakes feel deeply personal. As one protester outside the courthouse put it, “This isn’t just about Chicago — it’s about who controls our communities, our streets, and our rights.”

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