The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its plans to deploy the National Guard to their regions. The lawsuit emphasizes that the American populace, irrespective of their location, should not have to endure the threat of military occupation by the United States. This situation arises particularly when city or state leadership is at odds with the president’s agenda, as noted in the introduction of the lawsuit.
In this legal action, both the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago are named as plaintiffs. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul asserts that the deployment of federalized troops to Illinois is "patently unlawful." He further contends that the plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent what they describe as the "illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional federalization" of National Guard members, specifically those from the Illinois and Texas National Guards.
Raoul has expressed significant concerns regarding the potential consequences of the National Guard deployment, warning that it could lead to increased unrest, a deterioration of trust in law enforcement, and detrimental effects on the state’s economy. A federal memo obtained by CBS News indicated that as many as 300 members of the Illinois National Guard would be federalized and sent to protect federal properties and personnel engaged in federal functions.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker confirmed the details of this memo, revealing that an additional 400 National Guard members from Texas would also be deployed to Chicago and Portland, Oregon. Meanwhile, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the deployment of the National Guard to Portland as of Sunday, underscoring the contentious nature of these developments.
The rapidly evolving situation surfaces amidst the Trump administration’s portrayal of Democrat-led cities as chaotic and lawless. This narrative coincides with Trump’s broader agenda of cracking down on illegal immigration. Officials from both Chicago and Illinois have rebutted the president’s characterizations, arguing that military intervention is unnecessary and that federal involvement is exacerbating tensions on the ground.
The lawsuit specifically claims that the recent actions taken by President Trump in what he has termed his "War" on Chicago and Illinois are both unlawful and hazardous. It reiterates that American citizens should not face the threat of military occupation, especially when such measures are taken due to political disagreements between local leaders and the federal government.
In light of these developments, Governor Pritzker and Attorney General Raoul are scheduled to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. on Monday, where they will be joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. CBS News Chicago will stream this news conference live on its 24/7 news platform as well as on-air, providing real-time updates on this significant legal battle.
