Judge Halts National Guard Deployment in Chicago, Citing Lack of Evidence

Fri Oct 10 2025 09:40:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge April Perry blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area, siding with local officials who considered the action unnecessary.

A judge has temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, highlighting a lack of substantial evidence for a perceived threat of unrest. This decision represents a victory for local Democratic officials against state and federal tensions, particularly with President Trump. The ruling came amidst a lawsuit by local leaders against the federal government’s characterizations of protests and unrest. Judge Perry expressed skepticism about the motivations behind the deployment, citing political animus from the Trump administration.

A judge blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area for two weeks, finding no substantial evidence that a “danger of rebellion” is brewing in Illinois.

It’s a victory for Democratic officials who lead the state and city and have traded insults with President Donald Trump about his drive to put troops on the ground in major urban areas.

U.S. District Judge April Perry didn’t lay out details of any order or say what part of the request she was granting as she spoke from the bench in her crowded courtroom.

The lawsuit was filed Monday by Chicago and Illinois to stop the deployments of Illinois and Texas Guard members. Some troops were already at an immigration building in the Chicago suburb of Broadview when Perry heard arguments on Thursday.

The building has been the site of occasional clashes between protesters and agents.

Perry said the actions of the Department of Homeland Security are largely rooted in President Donald Trump’s “animus toward Illinois elected officials.” She expressed skepticism about the federal government’s characterization of protests in Broadview.

“DHS’s narrative of events is simply unreliable,” she stated in court.

The city and state deemed the deployments unnecessary and illegal, with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and local officials strongly opposing the use of the Guard. Protests have not significantly hindered federal immigration enforcement at the temporary detention facility in Broadview.

Trump has labeled Chicago as a lawless “hellhole” despite falling crime statistics in the city.

U.S. Justice Department attorney Eric Hamilton argued that the Guard’s mission would focus on protecting federal properties and law enforcement—not acting as a sweeping solution for crime.

The nearly 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement, but Trump has suggested he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty military personnel to quell unrest.

Heavy turnout at the courthouse led to an overflow room being opened. Local Mayor Brandon Johnson was also present during the hearing.