The Trump administration has taken its disagreement with Democratic governors to the Supreme Court, seeking approval for the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area. This request, made on Friday, marks an escalation in President Donald Trump’s ongoing battle over military use within U.S. borders.
Triggered by a recent judicial decision, the emergency appeal follows a ruling that temporarily blocks the deployment of National Guard members from Illinois and Texas to support immigration enforcement efforts. This decision, made by a federal judge, has been upheld by an appeals court, further delaying the administration’s plans.
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Since assuming office in January, President Trump has frequently turned to the Supreme Court for emergency relief, often finding success in overturning lower court decisions. The conservative-leaning court has routinely sided with Trump, approving measures such as the ban on transgender individuals in the military, the reallocation of federal funds, aggressive immigration policies, and the removal of leaders from independent federal agencies.
In the ongoing National Guard deployment case, U.S. District Judge April Perry determined there was insufficient evidence of a significant threat in Illinois related to Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. Consequently, the deployment of the Guard has been postponed until at least next Friday.
Despite this judicial barrier, Solicitor General D. John Sauer, representing the Trump administration, has urged the Supreme Court to act swiftly. Sauer contends that Judge Perry’s order undermines presidential authority and jeopardizes federal personnel and property, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
But Solicitor General D. John Sauer, Trump’s top Supreme Court lawyer, urged the justices to step in immediately. Perry’s order, Sauer wrote, “impinges on the President’s authority and needlessly endangers federal personnel and property.”
Former federal prosecutor Chris Hotaling weighed in as the nation waits to see if the Supreme Court plans to hear the emergency motion.
“If the Supreme Court were to rule that President Trump has the power under federal law to deploy the National Guard, we could see National Guard troops on the ground in Chicago in about a month,” Hotaling said. “So, regardless of what Judge Perry said here in Chicago, the Supreme Court can do whatever it wants.”
Last week, the Guard arrived at the Broadview immigration facility on Thursday. Troops could be seen walking around and lingering near the facility.
Gov. JB Pritzker said in a post on X, “Donald Trump will keep trying to invade Illinois with troops – and we will keep defending the sovereignty of our state. Militarizing our communities against their will is not only un-American but also leads us down a dangerous path for our democracy. What will come next?”
The city/state must respond to the appeal by 4 p.m. Monday.
A federal judge in Oregon also has temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard troops there.
Guard troops from several states also are patrolling the nation’s capital and Memphis, Tennessee.
In a California case, a judge in September said the deployment was illegal. By that point, just 300 of the thousands of troops sent there remained and the judge did not order them to leave.
ABC7 Chicago’s Tre Ward contributed to this report.
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