A Biden-appointed federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to provide a legal justification within 48 hours for its deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, intensifying a political and legal clash between the White House and Illinois’ Democratic leadership. U.S. District Judge April Perry, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022, issued the order Monday night after Illinois officials filed a lawsuit seeking to block the federal troop deployment. The judge set a midnight Wednesday deadline for the administration’s response and scheduled a full hearing for Thursday afternoon.
While Perry declined to issue a temporary restraining order, roughly 200 Texas National Guard troops are expected to arrive in Chicago by Wednesday morning to support law enforcement in high-crime areas. The lawsuit, led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and joined by Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, claims the deployment is “an unlawful act of political retaliation” against Democratic-led jurisdictions. Raoul argued the president is invoking the Insurrection Act without evidence of rebellion.
President Trump defended the move as necessary to combat gang violence and enforce federal immigration laws in the sanctuary city. “We have an Insurrection Act for a reason,” he said, pledging to act where courts or governors delay federal law enforcement. Tensions escalated Monday night outside an ICE facility, where federal agents used pepper balls and tear gas to disperse protesters, prompting Illinois leaders to accuse the federal government of provoking violence. Legal experts say Thursday’s hearing could set a significant precedent regarding presidential authority to deploy federal forces domestically. For now, Trump’s administration has until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to file its defense, with no indication of a rollback.
