WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops to the Chicago area. The decision marks a rare legal setback for the Trump administration as it seeks to expand domestic military operations in Democratic-led cities.
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that prevented the federal deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to Illinois. The case was brought by state and city officials who argued that the deployment was unlawful.
An unsigned order from the US Supreme Court stated that the administration failed to identify a legal basis for the deployment. The court noted that presidential authority over the National Guard applies only in “exceptional” circumstances. Three conservative justices—Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch—dissented from the ruling.
The Trump administration had argued that the deployment was necessary to protect federal personnel and property at a Chicago-area immigration facility. Officials cited ongoing protests as a threat, claiming local law enforcement could not manage the situation.
State and city leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, countered that the protests were largely peaceful and manageable. Federal judges agreed, noting that the administration’s claims of violence were exaggerated. They warned that using the military in such situations could worsen tensions.
Legally, Trump cited a law allowing him to federalize state National Guard troops in cases of rebellion, invasion, or inability to enforce federal law with regular forces. However, Judge April Perry, appointed by President Biden, ruled that this standard was not met and that bypassing regular forces was unlawful. A three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld her decision.
This case is part of a broader pattern of Trump deploying National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles, Portland, Memphis, and Washington, D.C. Critics argue these deployments were politically motivated.
While the Trump administration has often won support from the US Supreme Court on other matters, this ruling represents a rare setback. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the president, while Governor Pritzker called it a key step against abuse of power.
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The ruling underscores the limits of presidential authority over domestic military deployments and highlights ongoing legal scrutiny of the administration’s actions.
