The US Supreme Court has halted President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy the National Guard to Illinois, marking a setback for the administration. In a 6-3 vote, the court rejected the Trump administration’s request. The court stated that the government had not provided a legal basis for the military to enforce laws in Illinois.
The dispute originated on October 4 when Trump ordered 300 Illinois National Guard members into active federal service, mainly in and around Chicago. Subsequently, Texas National Guard members were also federalized and sent to Chicago. A temporary restraining order was issued on October 9 by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, preventing the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in the state.
Following the district court’s decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the ruling on October 16. While it allowed federalization of the National Guard, deployment of its members was prohibited. The Trump administration then appealed to the Supreme Court for a final decision on the matter.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the activation of the National Guard by stating it was to safeguard federal law enforcement officers and prevent destruction of federal properties by rioters. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, and the Democratic mayor of Chicago, who opposed the deployment, welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling, considering it a significant victory for Illinois and American democracy.
