Chicago National Guard Blockade

National Guard deployment blocked in Chicago. U.S. District Judge April M. Perry of the Northern District of Illinois temporarily blocked the deployment of the National Guard in the state, a measure ordered by President Donald Trump’s administration under the argument of reinforcing security during immigration raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The decision came after a marathon six-hour hearing, in which representatives of the Department of Justice (DOJ) defended the legality of the deployment under the Insurrection Act, a rule that allows the president to use troops inside the country in cases of rebellion or generalized violence. However, the judge found that the federal government did not present credible evidence that there was a “rebellion” or a serious threat to public order that would justify this exceptional measure.

National Guard use blocked in Chicago

A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Illinois https://t.co/nU1Q9rIcmT pic.twitter.com/StyyBv8lbA

– CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 9, 2025

Perry ordered a temporary restriction preventing for now any troop mobilization within the streets of Illinois while he evaluates the merits of the case.

In her resolution, the magistrate pointed out that the Government “cannot invoke extraordinary powers without a solid factual basis” and recalled that the use of military forces in civilian tasks violates the Posse Comitatus Law, which limits the participation of the Army in police functions.

The ruling comes just two days after 200 Texas National Guard troops arrived in Chicago, sent by Republican Governor Greg Abbott as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration raid strategy led by ICE.

The official objective, according to the U.S. Northern Command, was to “protect” immigration agents and secure federal buildings in the face of protests that had intensified in the city.

The raids, however, have provoked a strong backlash among civil organizations, community leaders and local officials, who denounce abuses, arbitrary arrests and the excessive use of force against immigrant families, many of them with legal status.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker welcomed the court decision and reiterated their opposition to a military presence in the city.

“We will not take a step back. Chicago doesn’t need soldiers, it needs solutions,” Johnson declared. Pritzker added that the federal government is “using immigration as a pretext to impose fear.”

Donald Trump is not a king – and his administration is not above the law.

Today, the court confirmed what we all know: there is no credible evidence of a rebellion in the state of Illinois.

And no place for the National Guard in the streets of American cities like Chicago.

– Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 9, 2025

For its part, the White House maintained that the deployment seeks to “maintain security and order in a city with growing unrest,” although it did not present concrete evidence of these alleged incidents.

Judge Perry announced that she will convene a new hearing in the coming days to determine whether the restraint will become a permanent injunction.

Until then, troops will remain off the streets, and Operation Midway Blitz continues under increasing legal and political scrutiny.