CHICAGO (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempts to deploy the military in Democratic-led cities — over the objections of mayors and governors — have brought a head-spinning array of court challenges and overlapping rulings.
As the U.S. Supreme Court ponders whether to clear the way for the National Guard in Chicago, a federal appeals court is hearing arguments regarding California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s challenge to the deployment of troops in Los Angeles. Guard troops could also soon be on the ground in Portland, Oregon, pending legal developments there.
A federal judge in Chicago has already blocked deployment of Guard troops to the Chicago area for two weeks. Judge April Perry, however, has extended that order by 30 days but noted that another ruling might be necessary depending on the Supreme Court's decision.
The Trump administration has argued that each day the restraining order remains in effect imposes irreparable harm to the Executive. Some local officials have pushed back against this declaration, calling it a dramatic step.
An appeals court recently noted that Trump could command 200 Oregon National Guard troops, yet a separate order blocks him from deploying them. In Los Angeles, a district court ruled that the administration violated federal law when sending troops after protests over immigration policies.
In other states, such as Tennessee and West Virginia, local groups and Democrats are filing lawsuits to curtail such deployments, with claims that governors are not following proper legislative procedures. The ongoing legal struggles highlight the tension between state and federal authority and raise critical questions about the role of the National Guard in domestic affairs.
