New Actor: Illinois and Chicago Sue to Block Trump Deployment

Illinois and Chicago filed a federal suit to stop the Trump administration from sending federalized National Guard troops to Chicago. The case names President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, and asks the court to bar any federalization of the Illinois Guard and any deployments from other states. U.S. District Judge April Perry declined to issue an immediate restraining order, ordered a government response by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, and set arguments for 11 a.m. Thursday.

The plan calls for at least 300 Illinois Guard members to be federalized and about 400 from Texas to be sent to Chicago. Texas Guard units were already en route, with arrivals possible as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday, and Illinois Guard members were ordered to report Tuesday for training. A Defense Department directive said the call‑up could take effect immediately for up to 60 days, with troops assigned to guard immigration facilities and other federal assets.

The complaint details a rapid series of federal moves: a Sept. 26 DHS request for 100 Guard to protect ICE sites, a Sept. 29 direction to line up Guard to integrate with federal law enforcement, and an Oct. 4 call giving Illinois two hours to agree before federalization. At Monday’s hearing, Justice Department lawyers would not commit to delaying the operation. Later that day, Mayor Brandon Johnson barred federal immigration agents and other officers from using city‑owned property as staging areas.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources