Illinois and Chicago have sued the Trump administration over the federal deployment of National Guard troops, calling the move unconstitutional and politically driven amid ongoing protests.
The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago. The lawsuit, submitted Monday in federal court, argues that the deployment is illegal and unconstitutional, marking a new chapter in the ongoing tension between the White House and Democratic-led states. The legal challenge comes just hours after a federal judge in Oregon blocked a similar move to send troops to Portland.
In the complaint, state and city officials accuse the administration of unlawfully federalizing the National Guard, calling the decision “dangerous” and politically motivated. The White House had announced that 300 members of the Illinois National Guard would be sent to Chicago to “protect federal officers and assets” following weeks of protests against federal immigration enforcement. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker refused to authorize the deployment and condemned the move, calling it an “invasion.” The administration also reportedly planned to send 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois and Oregon.
President Donald Trump, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are named as defendants in the case. A White House spokesperson defended the president’s actions, saying he was acting within his authority to maintain order and protect federal property. However, the lawsuit claims Trump’s decision was motivated by hostility toward Chicago and Illinois, citing a history of inflammatory remarks about the city.
The lawsuit further argues that protests at an ICE facility near Chicago have been used as a pretext for deploying troops, and that the move threatens to escalate tensions rather than restore peace. Illinois officials are seeking a court order to halt all National Guard federalization efforts, describing the president’s actions as an unconstitutional abuse of power.
