Chicago, Illinois — A political and legal confrontation is unfolding between Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and President Donald Trump after the governor condemned and sought to block what he described as an unlawful military deployment to Chicago. Calling the move “unconstitutional and unwarranted,” Pritzker said the Trump administration’s actions amount to a dangerous overreach of executive power designed to create fear and confusion rather than ensure public safety.
At a news conference Monday, Pritzker dismissed the administration’s claims of an “insurrection” or “invasion” in Chicago and criticized what he called an effort to “justify and normalize” the use of armed soldiers in American cities. The state of Illinois has now filed a lawsuit aimed at preventing the federal government from sending hundreds of National Guard troops to Chicago under the president’s directive. The suit argues that Trump’s order violates constitutional limits on federal power and unlawfully federalizes state military forces.
“The Trump administration is following a playbook: cause chaos, create fear and confusion, make it seem like peaceful protesters are a mob by firing gas pellets and tear gas canisters at them,” Pritzker said. “Why? To create the pretext for invoking the Insurrection Act so that he can send the military to our city.”
The legal filing comes after the governor revealed that Trump ordered around 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployment to Illinois, Oregon, and other states, as well as an additional 300 members of the Illinois National Guard to protect federal property and personnel. Pritzker said his office was not informed in advance of the decision and accused the White House of acting unilaterally.
Accompanied by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and several congressional representatives, including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Brad Schneider, and Mike Quigley, Pritzker emphasized that there is no unrest or rebellion that would justify such measures. “Donald Trump’s deranged depiction of Chicago as a hellhole, a war zone, and the worst and most dangerous city in the world was just complete nonsense,” Pritzker said. “He’s declaring war on a great American city that has the lowest homicide rate in 60 years and record employment and tourism. He’s doing this for his own reasons, not for the people’s safety.”
The governor also accused federal immigration enforcement of using excessive and provocative tactics. Since the Department of Homeland Security initiated a large-scale immigration crackdown last month, more than 1,000 immigrants have been arrested in the Chicago area. Pritzker and other local leaders claim that aggressive raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have increased tensions in communities and led to unnecessary confrontations.
“For weeks now, Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and Gregory Bovino have brought militarized agents into the streets of Chicago to cause violence and chaos,” Pritzker said. “They need to stop inciting our residents.” He vowed that Illinois would “use every lever at our disposal to resist this power grab” and ensure that the federal government respects state authority.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined Pritzker in announcing the lawsuit, calling the deployment of National Guard troops “illegal and unconstitutional.” Speaking alongside the governor, Raoul said, “The president’s actions are unlawful, no matter where these forces come from. This is a misuse of federal power against a state and its citizens.”
In an afternoon court hearing, a federal judge declined to issue an immediate restraining order to stop the troop deployment but suggested that the federal government temporarily pause its plans. Attorneys for the administration told the court that troops were already en route to Illinois and expected to arrive by Tuesday or Wednesday.
The White House defended the decision in a statement, asserting that Trump was acting within his legal authority to protect federal officers and facilities. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets.”
Pritzker rejected that characterization, arguing that the administration was using false claims of unrest to justify sending troops into Democratic-led cities. He cited a previous California court ruling that found Trump overstepped his authority when sending National Guard units to Los Angeles earlier this year, saying it set a precedent against similar action in Chicago.
The standoff mirrors developments in Oregon, where officials are also fighting to prevent federalized National Guard troops from being deployed to Portland. A federal judge there temporarily blocked Trump’s order late Sunday, citing constitutional concerns.
As the situation unfolds, Illinois officials are bracing for a prolonged legal battle. Pritzker reiterated that the state would not tolerate what he described as a federal intrusion into local governance. “They think they can fool us into believing the way out of this crisis is to give them more power,” he said. “That plan will only work if we let it. I’m not afraid, and I won’t back down.”
