The US Supreme Court has blocked former President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops to Chicago, siding with state and local officials who opposed the move.
In an unsigned order, the court indicated that a president’s power to federalize the National Guard is likely limited to “exceptional” situations, leaving the lower court ruling intact.
The National Guard is primarily composed of state-controlled troops that respond to major emergencies such as natural disasters, civil unrest, or large-scale protests.
The decision marks a rare moment in which the conservative-majority Supreme Court has ruled against the Trump administration, which has generally seen favorable outcomes in recent months. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker hailed the ruling as “a big win for Illinois and American democracy.”
The deployment to Chicago is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to quell protests sparked by federal immigration raids in predominantly Democrat-led cities, including New Orleans, Portland, and Washington DC.
Trump has defended his use of troops, claiming it is needed to combat violence, address crime, and enforce deportation measures.
However, Illinois officials challenged the deployment, and a lower court blocked hundreds of National Guard personnel from being sent to the Chicago area.
The judge ruled that the situation did not meet the threshold of a “rebellion or danger of rebellion” as claimed by the president.
Trump appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that his decision to deploy the National Guard should not be subject to judicial review. The Department of Justice also requested that the court allow the deployment while the case proceeded.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined to overturn the lower court’s ruling, maintaining the status quo. “At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois,” the justices wrote in a 6-3 decision. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
The ruling ensures that Chicago, one of the nation’s largest cities, will remain free from additional National Guard presence. While Trump has sent troops to several major cities despite ongoing legal challenges, this is the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on the effort.
