Illinois announces lawsuit against Trump admin for use of Guard

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(The Center Square) – The state of Illinois is seeking a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration for plans to deploy the Illinois and Texas National Guard to the Chicago area.

President Donald Trump has said for weeks he wants to use the National Guard to assist in public safety efforts in Chicago. Sunday, he said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s opposition to using the Guard in assisting federal agencies enforcing federal law stems from being “afraid for his life.”

“I believe the politicians are under threat because there's no way somebody can say that things are wonderful in Chicago,” Trump told reporters. “And I think that Pritzker, he's not a stupid person. I think that Pritzker is afraid for his life.”

Sunday evening, Pritzker posted on X that he called on Texas Gov. Greg Abbot to “immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.”

“There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation,” Pritzker said.

Monday morning, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the federal lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Illinois.

In the lawsuit, Raoul alleges the Trump administration has exceeded its authority by federalizing a state’s National Guard. Raoul’s office said such actions can only happen under limited circumstances like invasion, rebellion or if the federal government is unable to enforce federal laws.

“As Attorney General Raoul points out, none of these legal requirements exist to justify the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in Illinois,” Raoul’s office said.

Over the weekend, there were two separate incidents the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported of federal officers’ vehicles being rammed by other vehicles. There were also firearms taken from protesters outside the ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, the weekend before last.

“These attacks on our brave law enforcement officers must END,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Secretary [Kristi] Noem has taken action to deploy additional resources to restore law and order. We will not allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Monday morning, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced an executive order prohibiting the use of city property for federal immigration operations. 

“We will not tolerate ICE agents violating our residents’ constitutional rights nor will we allow the federal government to disregard our local authority," Johnson said in a statement. "ICE agents are detaining elected officials, tear-gassing protestors, children, and Chicago police officers, and abusing Chicago residents. We will not stand for that in our city."

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison said in a statement Monday morning that the crisis of public safety around immigration enforcement is a "crisis created by reckless ideology and political cowardice.”

“Let me be absolutely clear; this crisis is not the fault of our officers,” Morrison said. “It lies squarely with the command leadership following political orders, and the politicians who created this breakdown of law and order.”

Morrison said the state should suspend sanctuary policies and halt local sanctuary ordinances that prevent cooperation with federal agencies.