Politics

Illinois Sues Trump Administration Over National Guard Deployment: What You Need to Know

Illinois and Chicago sued Trump admin over National Guard deployment, calling it unlawful and politically driven.

October 6, 2025, 4:22 PM

Soldier in camouflage uniform and tactical vest with a handgun in a holster

A National Guard soldier stands with a handgun holstered at their hip, wearing camouflage attire and a tactical vest. By DT phots1 / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on October 6, 2025, challenging the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago.

The lawsuit alleges the deployment of federalized troops is “unlawful, illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional,” and politically motivated, referencing President Trump’s “threatening and derogatory” comments.

Plaintiffs are seeking a court order to halt the administration from deploying National Guard troops to Illinois and to declare the federalization of National Guard troops more broadly as unlawful, following a similar legal challenge in Portland.

The Story So Far

The Trump administration has an established pattern of deploying federalized National Guard troops, claiming to protect federal assets during protests against federal policies, a strategy previously seen in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. This approach has sparked a significant dispute with Democrat-led states, including Illinois and Oregon, who assert that these deployments are politically motivated, unconstitutional, and unlawful, leading to legal challenges aimed at broadly halting such federalization.

Why This Matters

The lawsuit filed by Illinois and Chicago against President Trump’s administration over the deployment of federalized National Guard troops escalates a significant legal and political conflict regarding federal authority versus state sovereignty, particularly concerning the use of military forces in response to civil unrest and federal policy protests. This challenge could establish a critical precedent for future federal deployments, potentially limiting the administration’s ability to unilaterally deploy National Guard troops to states without their consent and dictating how federal authorities respond to protests or protect federal assets nationwide.

Who Thinks What?

The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, along with Governor JB Pritzker, contend that the Trump administration’s deployment of federalized National Guard troops to Chicago is “patently unlawful,” “illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional,” politically motivated, and akin to an “invasion.”

The Trump administration views the deployment of National Guard troops as a necessary measure to “protect federal officers and assets” amid ongoing protests against federal immigration enforcement.

The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, October 6, 2025, challenging the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago. The suit, lodged in a U.S. District Court in Illinois, alleges that the administration’s move to send federalized troops, ostensibly to protect federal assets amid ongoing protests against federal immigration enforcement, is “patently unlawful,” “illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional,” and politically motivated.

Deployment and Condemnation

The lawsuit comes two days after President Donald Trump authorized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard to deploy to Chicago. This action was framed by the White House as a measure to “protect federal officers and assets,” reprising a strategy previously employed against anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the administration’s decision, particularly after learning of plans to send an additional 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois and Oregon, among other locations. Governor Pritzker likened the deployment to an “invasion.”

Legal Arguments and Demands

The complaint names President Trump, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as defendants. It argues that the deployments are politically motivated, referencing Trump’s “threatening and derogatory” comments about Chicago and Illinois.

Plaintiffs are seeking a court order to halt the administration from federalizing or deploying any National Guard troops to Illinois. Additionally, the lawsuit asks the court to declare the federalization of National Guard troops more broadly as unlawful.

Precedent in Other States

Illinois’ legal challenge mirrors a similar action taken in Portland, Oregon, against the administration’s assignment of federalized Guard troops. In that instance, a Trump-appointed federal judge temporarily blocked the deployment of National Guard members from anywhere in the U.S. to Portland, following objections from officials in Oregon and California.

Key Takeaways

The ongoing legal challenges highlight a growing dispute between the Trump administration and Democrat-led states over the deployment of federalized National Guard troops. These lawsuits contend that such deployments are unconstitutional and driven by political motivations, particularly in response to protests against federal government policies.