Trump asks Supreme Court to allow deployment of National Guard in Illinois

President Trump's administration is making a last-ditch effort to deploy thousands of Illinois National Guardsmen to Chicago under the guise of protecting federal immigration officers and government property from violence. In a surprise move, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block an order that blocked the deployment, citing the president's authority as Commander-in-Chief.

The administration claims that ongoing protests in the city have reached a level of "danger" and "rebellion" that justifies federal intervention, citing Title 10 of the US Code, which allows the president to deploy state National Guard troops under certain conditions. However, Illinois officials argue that the situation is not violent enough to justify the deployment, pointing out that local law enforcement agencies have been able to contain disruptions without federal assistance.

A federal appeals court earlier this month upheld a lower court order blocking the deployment of Guardsmen, but allowed them to remain under federal control while the matter was reviewed. The Supreme Court's decision could potentially pave the way for the deployment, sparking concerns about the limits of presidential power and local authority.

Critics, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, have called the move "un-American" and a breach of state sovereignty. They argue that federal authorities should not be used to intimidate protesters or enforce immigration policies in a democratic society. The Biden administration has been largely silent on the issue, fueling speculation about its stance.

The move is part of a broader pattern of action by President Trump to deploy National Guard troops to cities across the country where protests have erupted over his immigration agenda. While some argue that this is necessary to maintain order and protect federal officials, others see it as an attempt to undermine local authority and stifle dissent.

As tensions continue to simmer in Chicago and beyond, one thing is clear: the Supreme Court's decision on this case will have far-reaching implications for the balance of power between the federal government and individual states. Will the court side with President Trump's administration, or will it uphold the lower courts' ruling that limits his authority? The outcome will be closely watched by civil rights advocates, politicians, and law enforcement officials nationwide.

this whole thing feels so extreme, like trump's trying to flex his muscle as commander in chief. all these guardsmen being sent to chicago over immigration issues? it's not even clear what they're supposed to be protecting - the protesters or the fed officers. and what about the il governor saying it's un-American? shouldn't we be worried about a president overstepping his bounds, especially when it comes to state sovereignty?

i think this is just another example of trump trying to distract from his own failures on immigration... meanwhile, local cops are doing fine without all these extra federal agents. and what's the real motivation behind all this? is it really about maintaining order or just about sending a message to protesters?

my heart goes out to the people of Chicago right now... this is just so unfair & scary can't believe the administration is trying to use the National Guard as a tool for intimidation ilinois gov is totally right that it's un-American to try to undermine local authority like this and what's really going on here is that trump's admin is trying to silence dissent & stifle voices of protest this isn't about keeping people safe, it's about maintaining power

omg is this real life?? like what even is going on in chicago rn?! i dont get why trump would wanna deploy the national guard over immigration protests its not like theyre armed or anything i mean illinois gov is totally right tho state sovereignty and all that but at the same time im kinda worried about protesters getting hurt what if trump really believes his own hype about being commander in chief?? idk man this whole thing just seems super messy

I'm low-key worried about this whole situation in Chicago. I think the feds should just chill, you know? Deploying thousands of National Guardsmen seems like overkill to me . It's like they're trying to dictate how cities handle their own issues. I get that protests can get outta hand, but isn't it better to let local law enforcement try to contain the situation first? It feels like Trump's just trying to flex his authority and make a statement instead of actually solving problems .

And what about the precedent this sets for other cities? Is this gonna lead to more federal intervention in state affairs? I don't think so, but it's still a concern. The Supreme Court's decision is gonna be super interesting – will they side with Trump or uphold the lower courts' ruling? Either way, it's gonna affect how law enforcement and politicians interact with each other across the country .

I also wonder why the Biden admin hasn't chimed in on this yet... are they just letting Trump do his thing? That's a bit suspicious if you ask me .

this is getting crazy like what's next? deployin guardsmen to all cities where protests happen lol

i mean think about it if trump can do that in chicago he can do it anywhere else too

i'm not surprised though gov pritzker and others are speaking out against this it's a clear breach of state sovereignty

and what's with the biden admin being all quiet on this like are they just gonna sit back and let trump dictate the situation?

anyway u guys think the supreme court is gonna side w/ trump or the lower courts?

This is getting ridiculous like they're trying to send in the army to quash a picnic in Grant Park lol what's next, deploying SWAT teams to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game? I'm no expert, but if protests are "dangerous" and "rebellious", can't local cops handle it with some pepper spray and a stern talking-to? The whole thing just smells like an attempt to shut down dissent and silence opposition...like, what's the opposite of " America the Beautiful"? " America the Intimidated" maybe?

I'm low-key worried about this whole thing... like what even is the goal here? Is it really worth deploying thousands of National Guardsmen to Chicago just to "protect" federal immigration officers and property from violence that's not even there? It feels like a classic case of federal overreach, you know?

And can we talk about the language being used here? "Danger" and "rebellion"? That's some serious red flag stuff. What does that even mean? Is it based on actual data or just some vague, Trump-esque assessment of the situation?

I also feel like this is a symptom of a bigger problem - a lack of trust between local law enforcement and federal authorities. Like, why can't they just work together to address these issues instead of resorting to military-style deployments? It's not that hard to find ways to de-escalate tensions without taking away someone else's authority.

The Supreme Court's decision is going to be super telling - will it be a win for President Trump's administration or will it uphold the lower courts' ruling and limit his power? Either way, I think we're all in for a wild ride...

I'm so done with this move ‍. Like, can't they just let the people have their say without throwing in federal troops ? It's not like these protests are gonna hurt anyone . And what's next? Is President Trump gonna start deploying troops to Chicago for no reason other than to "protect" him ? No way, Jose! The Supreme Court needs to call out this overreach and remind us that our states' rights are still valid . Illinois officials are right on point - local law enforcement can handle these situations, no need for the feds . Let's keep it local and let the people make their own decisions

this whole thing is just so... concerning . as someone who's lived through their fair share of protests and social unrest, i gotta say, it feels like the feds are getting a little too big for their britches . deployment of national guardsmen without local consent? that's not how democracy works . and what's really going on here is the trump administration trying to stifle dissent and intimidate protesters . can't we just let the chips fall where they may instead of sending in the troops?

This whole situation is giving me major FOMO , you know? Like, I'm all for people standing up for their rights and protesting against policies they don't agree with, but deploying thousands of National Guard troops to Chicago just feels like a huge overreach . I mean, can't local law enforcement handle it on their own? It's not like the situation is completely out of control - protesters are still being peaceful, for the most part .

And can we talk about how this is basically an attempt to intimidate and silence dissenting voices? Like, what even is the point of deploying federal troops if you're just gonna use them to police people's behavior? It feels like a total perversion of the whole "protest" thing .

I'm not saying President Trump doesn't have the authority to make decisions about national security and all that, but come on - can't we find a way to balance national interests with state sovereignty without resorting to heavy-handed tactics like this? It's like, the whole country is watching this play out and wondering if our system of government is gonna be able to handle it .

Man, this is like, super deep ... Think about it, Chicago is just a city, right? But when President Trump's administration wants to deploy thousands of National Guardsmen there, it's not just about keeping order, it's about control ... They're basically saying that the local government can't handle it, so they gotta step in and take care of it. That's like, a huge power play, you know? And what's even crazier is that some people are calling it "un-American" ... Like, what does that even mean? Are we not supposed to have protests or dissenting opinions anymore?

But seriously, this is all about the limits of power and who gets to decide what happens in our cities. The Supreme Court's decision is going to be a huge deal, because it could set a precedent for how federal authorities treat local law enforcement ... Will they prioritize keeping order, or will they let local governments make their own decisions? It's like, we're watching this play out on the national stage, and it's all about who gets to decide what happens next .

omg u guys i just cant even i live in chicago and im so scared about this deployment thingy like what if we get invaded or something?? i know some ppl are all for it but i think its super unfair that theyre using the national guards to intimidate us protesters my friend from college who moved to chicago is already freaking out she just wanna be able to protest without getting arrested im all for free speech and expression too but this feels like a total power grab by trump his admin needs to chill i mean i get that protests can get wild but come on we dont need the feds showing up in our city with guns drawn its just not right

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." ~ Lord Acton

This whole situation is just so concerning... like, what's the real reason they're deploying these troops? Is it really about keeping people safe or is it more about exerting control over a democratic society? It's unsettling to see the limits of presidential power being pushed in such a way. We need to keep an eye on this and make sure we're not losing our individual freedoms in the process

I don't think deploying 1k+ Illinois National Guardsmen to Chicago is a good idea . I mean, we all get it, protests can get out of hand, but using the military to quell them seems like an overreach. The feds should be supporting local law enforcement instead of taking matters into their own hands. And what's with the "danger" and "rebellion" rhetoric? It sounds like a classic case of trying to justify authoritarian action .

The fact that the Biden administration hasn't weighed in on this is interesting - it raises questions about its stance, but also suggests they might be playing both sides or just waiting for the courts to settle this. Either way, I think it's a bad idea and we should be worried about where this could lead .

I'm all for maintaining order, but we need to make sure we're doing it in a way that respects local autonomy and doesn't infringe on civil rights. The Supreme Court needs to take a hard look at this and make sure the president isn't overstepping his bounds .

I don't get why they need to bring in all those guardsmen . I mean, sure, protests can get out of hand, but it's not like the city is being taken over by some kind of militia . Illinois has got this under control, and if they need help, they can just ask for it. But bringing in thousands of extra troops just to "protect" them? It sounds like they're trying to exert some kind of control here . And what about all those protesters who are just trying to make their voices heard? Don't they deserve some respect and space to express themselves? I'm all for keeping people safe, but this feels like a pretty heavy-handed move...

Ugh, this is getting crazy ... I mean, I get what they're trying to do, but deploying thousands of Guardsmen to Chicago just feels like a big ol' overreach . Like, can't we just let the local police handle it? We don't need the feds swooping in and taking over, you know? It's not like the protesters are asking for anything crazy... just some basic human rights and respect . And what's with all this "danger" and "rebellion" business? It feels like they're trying to demonize the protesters instead of actually addressing the issues . I'm all for peaceful protests, but come on, can't we find a way to work together that doesn't involve sending in the troops?

this is getting crazy! deploying thousands of guardsmen to chicago just cuz some protests got outta hand is just a recipe for disaster they're trying to undermine local authority and stifle dissent, but honestly who doesn't see that coming? the feds are always so quick to step in when things get messy, meanwhile what about the real issues like poverty and lack of access to healthcare?

man I'm so worried about this... the idea of deploying thousands of guardsmen to Chicago just feels like another example of Trump trying to intimidate protesters and assert federal control over cities that are rightfully theirs . And what's with all these "danger" and "rebellion" labels? It sounds like they're just making excuses for their own failed policies on immigration and border security... Meanwhile, I get why Illinois officials are skeptical - local law enforcement has been handling things just fine without federal intervention . We need to be careful not to let the executive branch overstep its bounds and disregard state sovereignty .

I think this is a super weird move by the Trump admin . Deploying thousands of National Guardsmen to Chicago just because some protests are getting out of hand feels like an overreach to me . I mean, can't local law enforcement handle it? And what's with the "danger" and "rebellion" rhetoric? It sounds like they're trying to justify some kinda authoritarian crackdown . The fact that the Biden admin is staying quiet on this is pretty telling imo . It feels like Trump is trying to pull a fast one on the country, using his Commander-in-Chief powers to override state sovereignty . I just hope the Supreme Court sees through this and doesn't let him get away with it .