WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court refused to allow President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area, dealing a rare setback to his administration as it expands the use of military forces for domestic purposes in Democratic-led jurisdictions.
In an unsigned order, the court let stand a lower court ruling that temporarily blocked the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops amid protests linked to Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. The Justice Department had asked the court to permit the deployment while legal proceedings continue.
“At this preliminary stage, the government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois,” the court said, adding that presidential authority to federalize the National Guard likely applies only in “exceptional” circumstances.
Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch dissented from the decision.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the ruling, calling it “an important step in curbing the Trump administration’s consistent abuse of power,” while a White House spokesperson said the decision does not undermine Trump’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting federal personnel.
The case arose after Trump ordered National Guard deployments to Chicago and Portland, following earlier deployments to Los Angeles, Memphis and Washington, D.C. The administration argued that troops were needed to protect federal property and personnel at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview.
Illinois and Chicago officials challenged the move, saying the protests were largely peaceful and manageable by local law enforcement. A federal district judge agreed, finding no evidence of rebellion or widespread violence and warning that a military presence could escalate tensions.
A federal appeals court also declined to lift the block, concluding that the facts did not justify the president’s actions in Illinois. Judges questioned the administration’s portrayal of the protests as violent, noting that local authorities had successfully contained sporadic disruptions.
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the lower court’s order in place as the case proceeds, while similar legal challenges continue in other states over Trump’s use of the military for domestic law enforcement.–Reuters
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