CHICAGO (AP) — President Donald Trump’s attempts to deploy the military in Democratic-led cities — over the objections of mayors and governors — has 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 in 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 National Guard troops to the area for two weeks. A hearing is scheduled to determine if the order should be extended, as Trump administration lawyers push for emergency intervention by the Supreme Court to allow deployment.
In Portland, while an appeals court ruled Trump could command 200 Oregon National Guard troops, an existing court order currently blocks any deployment. Legal battles are also intensifying in California, with state officials challenging orders that permitted troop movements under federal control.
In Memphis, Tennessee, Democratic officials have initiated lawsuits to prevent National Guard deployment, asserting that state law requires legislative approval for such actions. The situation indicates a growing tension between state and federal authorities regarding the control and deployment of National Guards across various states.
