The state of Illinois sued the Trump administration Monday in an attempt to block its "unlawful" deployment of federalized National Guard troops to Chicago.
Why it matters: The new lawsuit comes less than 24 hours after California and Oregon secured a court order temporarily halting Trump's plan to send troops to Portland, a blow to the president's ongoing effort to target Democrat-led cities.
- Illinois' lawsuit says the administration's "provocative and arbitrary actions have threatened to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry."
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker demanded federal agents "get the heck out" of Chicago, saying on CNN Sunday, "they are the ones that are making it a war zone," as the administration has characterized the Windy City.
- Hours later, Pritzker said President Trump had ordered Texas National Guard units to deploy to Illinois, Oregon and elsewhere — without an attempt to discuss or coordinate with him.
Driving the news: Illinois and Chicago asked the court to halt the "illegal, dangerous, and unconstitutional federalization" of guard troops from Illinois and Texas, arguing it violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the military's role in domestic law enforcement.
- The 69-page suit alleged the deployment rests on the "flimsy pretext" of protests outside an ICE facility in a Chicago suburb.
The other side: "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," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement to Axios.
- "President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities," she added.
Catch up quick: Trump on Saturday called up 300 National Guard members in Illinois after his Department of Defense issued what Pritzker described as an ultimatum: "call up your troops, or we will."
- Pritzker emphasized that there is "no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois."
Zoom out: That came after a week of clashes involving federal law enforcement, including an incident where a man and woman allegedly used their vehicles to strike a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent's car.
- One of the agents then fired shots and struck one of the drivers, Axios' Carrie Shepherd reported.
- Last week, officers rounded up adults and children during an immigration raid in Chicago's South Side, according to multiple reports, marking an escalation of enforcement tactics.
What they're saying: "They're raiding neighborhoods where, instead of going after the bad guys, they're just picking up people who are brown and Black and then checking their credentials, 'Are you a U.S. citizen?' I don't know about you, but I don't carry around papers that say I'm a U.S. citizen," Pritzker said Sunday on "State of the Union."
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an order Monday to prohibit the use of city-owned spaces for civil immigration enforcement.
- "ICE agents are detaining elected officials, tear-gassing protestors, children, and Chicago police officers, and abusing Chicago residents," he said in a statement. "We will not stand for that in our city."
What we're watching: Trump also moved to mobilize Guard personnel in Portland, Oregon, but was temporarily blocked by a judge twice, the second time after attempting to direct California National Guard members to the city.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.
