On Thursday, October 17, the Federal Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s request to lift the ban on deploying National Guard units within the state of Illinois.
The three-judge panel upheld a temporary injunction issued against the White House’s actions. The court agreed with the ruling of U.S. District Judge April Perry of the Northern District of Illinois, who had previously blocked the troop deployment.
“No sufficient evidence of insurrection or threat of insurrection has been presented, nor any indication that the president is unable to enforce U.S. laws through regular forces,” the court’s decision stated.
The Trump administration argued that National Guard units were needed to protect federal immigration facilities from protesters. However, the court noted that the government itself “proclaims the success of its current efforts to enforce immigration laws.”
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White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Hill that “the facts have not changed” following the appellate court’s decision.
“Amid ongoing violent unrest and lawlessness that local authorities—including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat—have refused to stop, President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal employees and property,” she said. “President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness gripping America’s cities, and we expect the higher court to affirm his position.”
A week earlier, Judge Perry had partially restored Trump’s authority over the National Guard, allowing federal control of the troops but prohibiting their actual deployment.
According to U.S. Northern Command, around 300 members of the Illinois National Guard—placed under federal command—are already operating in the Chicago area, along with about 200 service members from Texas. Their activation period is set for 60 days.
As U.S. Northern Command stated on October 8, the purpose of their presence is “to protect employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officials carrying out their duties, including the enforcement of federal law, as well as to safeguard federal property.”
Authorities in Illinois and Chicago have filed lawsuits seeking to block the deployment of federal troops.