Cliff Notes – Is the United States under Martial Law?
- A federal judge has temporarily halted President Trump‘s order to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois, citing concerns that their presence would escalate tensions in the area.
- The judge expressed doubts about the federal government’s claims of violence during protests, describing the narrative as “unreliable.”
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the ruling, asserting that Trump’s actions violate the law, while the White House announced plans to appeal the order.
Judge temporarily blocks Illinois National Guard deployment
A United States federal judge on Thursday ordered a temporary halt to President Donald Trump’s deployment of hundreds of National Guard soldiers in the state of Illinois, which includes the city of Chicago.
The Trump administration had ordered the troops to protect federal officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and facilities in Chicago — which it depicts as a “war zone” — from what it described as violent protesters.
Local Democratic officials in Illinois have accused the Republican president of purposefully spurring protests with heavy handed operations, adding that state’s law enforcement agencies were perfectly sufficient.
What did the judge say about National Guard Deployment in Illinois?
On Thursday, US District Judge April Perry said that allowing Guard troops in the state would only “add fuel to the fire.”
The Trump administration was sued on Monday by Chicago and Illinois in a bid to stop the deployment of Guard members.
Some soldiers of the reserve military force were already at an immigration building in Broadview, a Chicago suburb, as Perry heard arguments which lasted over two hours.
The immigration building has occasionally seen clashes between agents and officials.
The judge said the actions of the Department of Homeland Security are largely rooted in Trump’s “animus toward Illinois elected officials.”
She expressed doubt over the federal government’s claim of violence during protests in Broadview.
“DHS’s narrative of events is simply unreliable,” she said.
Perry’s order will be in effect for two weeks, lasting until October 23.
Reactions to the Illinois order
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who accuses Trump of unconstitutional authoritarianism, welcomed the ruling.
“Donald Trump is not a king — and his administration is not above the law,” the Democratic governor wrote on X.
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Trump administration would appeal the order.
“President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities and we expect to be vindicated by a higher court,” she said.
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