A federal judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Illinois for at least two weeks.
U.S. District Judge April Perry didn’t lay out details of any order or say what part of the request she was granting as she spoke from the bench in court, but promised to share more on Friday.
The lawsuit was filed Monday by Chicago and Illinois to stop the deployments of Illinois and Texas Guard members. Some troops were already at an immigration building in the Chicago suburb of Broadview when Perry heard arguments.
Donald Trump is not a king — and his administration is not above the law,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wrote on X in response to the ruling. “Today, the court confirmed what we all know: there is no credible evidence of a rebellion in the state of Illinois. And no place for the National Guard in the streets of American cities like Chicago.”
The news comes after Pritzker expressed outrage at Trump, as the president announced plans to federalize at least 300 members of the Illinois National Guard.
MAKE CHICAGO SAFE AGAIN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.
Pritzker criticized the Trump administration, saying the plans were “absolutely outrageous and un-American.”
They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance — not a serious effort the protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,” Pritzker wrote on X earlier this week. “This demand follows unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents.”
In a news release on Monday, Trump said violence against in Illinois, especially against ICE agents in Chicago, needs to stop.
Federal facilities in Illinois, including those directly supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Protective Services (FPS), have come under coordinated assault by violent groups intent on obstructing Federal law enforcement activities,” the president noted. “These groups have sought to impede the deportation and removal of criminal aliens through violent demonstrations, intimidation, and sabotage of Federal operations. These violent activities appear to be increasing, and the situation in the State of Illinois, particularly in and around the city of Chicago, cannot continue.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency recently made more than 1,000 arrests across Illinois as part of Operation Midway Blitz. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the arrests include pedophiles, child abusers, kidnappers, gang members, and armed robbers.
“Our patriotic law enforcement officers are making these arrests despite working without pay because of the Democrats’ shutdown. President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow continued violence or repeat offenders to terrorize our neighborhoods and victimize our children. Operation Midway Blitz is making Illinois safe again,” McLaughlin said Friday in a news release.
Trump is in the midst of his ongoing crime crackdown throughout the nation. During the summer, he deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, as well as in Washington, D.C.
Trump said Chicago, along with Baltimore, Memphis, and Portland, were next on his list.
_______________
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
