A federal judge has ruled against an immediate halt to President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, a decision that echoes the contentious nature of federal-state relations.
US District Judge April Perry, appointed by President Biden, rejected a request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and scheduled a hearing for Thursday to examine the matter further.
On Sunday, President Trump ordered the dispatch of 400 Texas National Guard troops to Illinois and Oregon, citing the need for protection of ICE agents from what he labeled as violent Antifa extremists.
The state of Texas has countered by announcing the mobilization of a total of 2,000 National Guard troops to Chicago, a response to the backlash from Illinois’ Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, who condemned the federal intervention.
“I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated. “You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,” he added, emphasizing the need for decisive action.
I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.
You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it.
No Guard can match the training, skill, and… https://t.co/7SUk9XlMBn
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 6, 2025
The deployment follows a weekend of unrest in Chicago, where far-left demonstrators reportedly surrounded ICE agents’ vehicles, leading to escalated tensions. According to Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, such tactics constitute an assault on law enforcement:
ICE officers are “agents of law enforcement. If you box them in with vehicles, it is reasonable for them to believe that they are being ambushed… DO NOT BOX IN ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.” pic.twitter.com/ZRBk8JUuJL
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 6, 2025
In a bold legal maneuver, Illinois and Chicago initiated a lawsuit to prevent the troop deployment, despite the fact that the forces are already en route. “Defendants’ deployment of federalized troops to Illinois is patently unlawful,” stated Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as reported by CBS News. “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.”
Governor Pritzker echoed a sentiment of resistance against what he perceives as an overreach by the Trump Administration. “Illinois will not let the Trump Administration continue on their authoritarian march without resisting,” he asserted. “We will use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab because military troops should not be used against American communities,” he emphasized.
Illinois will not let the Trump Administration continue on their authoritarian march without resisting.
We will use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab because military troops should not be used against American communities. pic.twitter.com/KKLVPatngZ
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 6, 2025
In a separate yet related development, a federal judge also temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon on Sunday evening.
