Donald Trump is now the target of a legal fight from both the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago after he authorized the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops without local approval, escalating tensions over federal overreach and immigration enforcement.
The lawsuit, filed Monday (October 6), seeks to block the deployment of 300 federalized National Guard members to Chicago, per CBS.
The complaint argues that Trump’s directive violates the Constitution and disregards the authority of state and local governments.
“Defendants’ deployment of federalized troops to Illinois is patently unlawful,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul wrote in the filing. “Plaintiffs ask this court to halt the illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional federalization of members of the National Guard of the United States, including both the Illinois and Texas National Guard.”
The lawsuit comes amid growing unrest following federal immigration raids in the city. Demonstrations have broken out across Chicago, with residents protesting what they see as an aggressive and unnecessary military presence.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also issued an executive order on the same day, banning federal immigration agents from using any city-owned land—including parking lots, garages and vacant properties—for enforcement operations.
The order also offered free signage for private property owners to mark their land off-limits to federal agents.
According to ABC7 Chicago, Johnson’s order requires city departments to monitor and secure city-owned spaces but makes clear it won’t interfere with legitimate criminal investigations or court-issued warrants.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the deployment, calling it a “manufactured performance” and labeling the move “un-American.”
The deployment also includes about 400 troops from the Texas National Guard, who were approved to assist with federal protection missions in Illinois and other states.
The lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction to stop the deployment, arguing that federal authorities cannot override the will of elected state and city officials.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has been challenged over troop deployments. On Sunday (October 5), a federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked a similar attempt to send National Guard troops to that state, citing legal concerns about using military forces in domestic law enforcement roles.
The lawsuit is part of a broader pushback against Trump’s strategy of using federal troops in cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Washington and Memphis during periods of civil unrest.
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa also weighed in, urging residents to stay alert and safe. He posted videos and messages across social media disputing the narrative that Chicago is a war zone, calling out the federal government’s portrayal of the city as a justification for military intervention.
He also pointed to what he described as a growing crackdown on Black communities and immigrants in the city, linking it to broader systemic issues.
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