WASHINGTON — In a significant decision on Tuesday, the Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area as part of its immigration enforcement efforts.
The justices turned down the Republican administration’s urgent plea to overturn a previous decision by U.S. District Judge April Perry, which had halted the troop deployment. The administration had also failed to gain support from an appeals court. The Supreme Court’s decision came after a deliberation period of over two months.
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Although this ruling isn’t definitive, it may influence other legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s initiatives to send military forces to cities governed by Democrats.
This outcome marks an unusual setback for Trump in the Supreme Court, where he has frequently secured victories in emergency appeals since resuming office in January.
According to ABC7’s Chief Legal Analyst Gill Soffer, “The Supreme Court’s decision indicates two key points. First, the president can federalize the National Guard, but only if the U.S. military is both authorized to enforce the specific laws and unable to enforce them otherwise. Secondly, the court clarified that these particular laws are not typically within the enforcement domain of the U.S. military.”
Reacting to the decision, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released a statement saying, “Today’s ruling is a significant victory for Illinois and for democracy in America. I am pleased that the Supreme Court has determined Donald Trump lacked the authority to deploy the federalized guard in Illinois, marking a crucial step in curbing the Trump Administration’s ongoing misuse of power and his progression towards authoritarianism.”
American cities, suburbs, and communities should not have to faced masked federal agents asking for their papers, judging them for how they look or sound, and living in fear that President can deploy the military to their streets. The brave men and women of our National Guard should never be used for political theater and deserve to be with their families and communities, especially during the holidays, and ready to serve overseas or at home when called upon during times of immense need.
While we welcome this ruling, we also are clear-eyed that the Trump Administration’s pursuit for unchecked power is continuing across the country. Illinois will remain vigilant, defend the rights of our people, and stand up to further abuses of authority by Donald Trump and his cronies.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a statement, saying, “The President promised the American people he would work tirelessly to enforce our immigration laws and protect federal personnel from violent rioters. He activated the National Guard to protect federal law enforcement officers, and to ensure rioters did not destroy federal buildings and property. Nothing in today’s ruling detracts from that core agenda. The Administration will continue working day in and day out to safeguard the American public.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement, saying, “We welcome the Supreme Court’s ruling to block the deployment of National Guard personnel to the streets of Chicago, rebuking President Trump’s attempts to militarize and demonize our city.
I’ve maintained that these threats are unconstitutional from the very beginning. I am encouraged that the Supreme Court shares this view.
This decision doesn’t just protect Chicago-but protect cities around the country who have been threatened by Trump’s campaign against immigrants and Democratic-led cities.
We moved swiftly to challenge any deployment in court the moment the president first made his threats. My administration will maintain our commitment to protecting Chicagoans from federal overreach and continue to ensure Donald Trump is held accountable before the law.”
ABC7’s Cate Cauguiran contributed to this report.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
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