Washington, DC — The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to allow President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area, leaving in place a lower court order that blocks the federalization and on-the-ground deployment of hundreds of Guard members across Illinois. The unsigned order represents a significant setback for Trump’s broader effort to use military forces to support immigration enforcement in Democratic-led cities.
The justices rejected the administration’s emergency request to pause a district court ruling, concluding that, at this stage of the case, the federal government failed to show clear legal authority to use the military to execute domestic laws in Illinois. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
The case stems from Trump’s invocation of Title 10 authority after the Department of Homeland Security requested National Guard assistance to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities amid protests tied to stepped-up immigration enforcement. Illinois and Chicago officials sued, arguing the move violated constitutional limits on federal power and was unsupported by evidence of widespread violence or operational breakdowns.
State and local officials told the Court that immigration enforcement activity has continued uninterrupted and that demonstrations near ICE facilities have generally involved small crowds. Federal officials countered that officers faced harassment, vandalism, and credible threats, justifying military support.
The decision does not resolve the underlying legality of Trump’s actions but keeps the deployment blocked while the case proceeds. It marks the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on Trump’s use of the National Guard for domestic immigration-related operations.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
