National Guard troops sent to Illinois by President Donald Trump can remain in the state and under federal control, but cannot be used to protect federal property or conduct patrols for the time being, an appeals court decided on Saturday.
This ruling comes following federal Judge April Perry’s decision on Thursday to temporarily halt the National Guard deployment for at least two weeks, due to a lack of substantial evidence indicating a threat of rebellion in Illinois amid Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The appeals court on Saturday granted a pause in the case until it can hear further arguments.
Judge Perry, an appointee of former President Biden, previously blocked the administration’s use of the National Guard on Thursday.
On Saturday afternoon several protesters were arrested following the unrest at the ICE Broadview facility, a Chicago-area suburb.
Police moved in after demonstrators breached the perimeter and clashed with officers. The tense standoff that resulted in several arrests.
‘They’re pushing the line back… they’re all moving in unison,’ a witness said, describing the coordinated actions of the troopers.
The protest reflects local resistance to ICE activities in the area, with high tensions as officers and demonstrators clashed throughout the night.
A protestor, with an American flag face covering, stands opposite Cook County Sheriffs outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Saturday.
Hundreds of activists, called by the Coalition Espirituality and Public Leadership, attended a demonstration outside the ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Saturday.
Activists attend a demonstration outside the ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois
Authorities have not released the total number of arrests or injuries.
‘The court’s order today keeps the troops off the streets of Chicago, Broadview, or any other community in Illinois,’ Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul stated after the ruling.
‘This is a victory for our state. This is a victory for state and local law enforcement — who know their communities and who protect the right of their communities to speak truth to power.’
Illinois and Chicago leaders, including Democrat Governor JB Pritzker has filed a lawsuit on Monday over what her called ‘an ‘unconstitutional invasion of Illinois by the federal government.’
‘Donald Trump is not a king – and his administration is not above the law,’ he said in a statement on the social platform X after Perry’s previous decision on Thursday.
Perry had earlier granted Illinois and Chicago officials’ request for a temporary restraining order which prevented Trump from sending National Guard troops across the state after some were ordered to patrol around Chicago.
Around 300 federalized Illinois National Guard members and around 200 troops from Texas were deployed to the Chicago area on Wednesday night.They have been activated for 60 days.
The aim of the National Guard in Chicago is to ‘to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property,’ U.S. Northern Command said in a statement.
Illinois State Police detain protesters outside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview
Illinois State Police and Cooks County Sheriffs move in to detain protesters
There was an increased law enforcement presence after the National Guard were blocked from going on patrol
Illinois State Police detain protesters outside the ICE facility
Sherrif’s police detain a protester outside the ICE Detention Center on 25th Street and Harvard
The on-again, off-again deployments stem from a political and legal battle over Trump’s push to send the Guard to several US cities.
The Trump administration claims crime is rampant in those cities, despite statistics not always supporting that.
If a president invokes the Insurrection Act, they can dispatch active duty military in states that fail to put down an insurrection or defy federal law.
However, Perry said she found no substantial evidence that a ‘danger of rebellion’ is brewing in Illinois during Trump’s immigration crackdown.
She followed up Friday with an opinion that cites a mix of law and history, including the Federalist Papers, which were written in 1787-88 to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
‘There has been no showing that the civil power has failed,’ Perry said.
Father Dan Hartnette speaks with Illinois State Police officer as members of a Catholic group take part in a march near the ICE facility
The demonstrations against ICE are rooted in concerns about civil rights, local community safety, and alleged overreach by federal enforcement
Hundreds of activists, called by the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership attend a demonstration outside the ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois
There was plenty of media present to cover the protests and conflict with law entorcement
At least seven arrests took place as law enforcement moved in
The police detain a protester who crossed the barrier during a demonstration outside the ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois
A visitor, right, engages members of the Louisiana National Guard for a friendly chat on the National Mall in Washington on Saturday
‘The agitators who have violated the law by attacking federal authorities have been arrested.
The courts are open, and the marshals are ready to see that any sentences of imprisonment are carried out. Resort to the military to execute the laws is not called for.’
The judge said there was significant evidence that federal agents have been able to carry out their work, noting ‘huge increases in arrests and deportations.’
The 500 Guard members from Texas and Illinois were mostly based at a US Army Reserve Center in Elwood, southwest of Chicago.
A small number were sent to a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Broadview.
