Federal Judge Wont Immediately Block Troop Deployment After Illinois, Chicago File Lawsuit

Illinois and Chicago officials filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the deployment of 300 National Guardsmen to the state, intended to guard ICE facilities. This decision came despite Governor JB Pritzker's objections and his assertion that federal officials did not communicate with him beforehand. Pritzker labeled the action "Trump's Invasion," highlighting the escalation of federal immigration enforcement in Chicago. U. S.

District Judge April Perry held a hearing and ordered the Justice Department to respond to the lawsuit within two days, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for Thursday. The lawsuit follows a timeline of federal actions, including a previous ruling blocking troop deployment to Oregon. Attorney General Kwame Raoul emphasized that the National Guard's federalization occurred without a public safety need. Local leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, criticized the federal government's actions as an overreach. They argue that the deployment uses service members as political tools rather than addressing genuine safety concerns.