What You Need to Know About the Troop Deployments in Chicago and Portland

A federal judge in Chicago is reviewing the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to assist immigration enforcement in Illinois.

This follows a legal challenge by state and city officials. US District Judge April Perry presided over a hearing on Thursday to assess the legality and scope of the federal deployment. Lawyers representing Illinois and the US Department of Justice presented arguments focused on whether the use of troops in civilian areas exceeds federal authority.

Judge Perry questioned DOJ attorney Eric Hamilton on whether troops would be restricted to federal property or placed more broadly in communities, including near schools and hospitals. Hamilton stated that troops may be used to “protect ICE agents” working in the field, indicating a potentially wider operational role.

The lawsuit, filed earlier in the week by the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago, argues that the deployment is both unnecessary and unconstitutional. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say protests at a temporary Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, west of Chicago, have been peaceful and have not disrupted federal operations.

Christopher Wells, representing the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, said the move “threatens the careful balance of our Constitutional system” and constitutes federal overreach. President Donald Trump has defended the deployment as a measure to protect federal personnel and respond to crime.

However, recent local crime data shows a decline, contradicting the administration’s justification. Federal officials have cited a recent altercation involving Border Patrol agents and residents as evidence for the need for military support.

Troops have already begun arriving in the area. On Tuesday, personnel from the Texas National Guard were seen at a military facility in Elwood, Illinois, about 55 miles southwest of Chicago. US Northern Command confirmed that 200 Texas troops have started operations, though their exact locations have not been made public.

Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois has condemned the deployment in legal filings, calling it “unlawful and dangerous.” He confirmed that 300 Illinois National Guard members are also being federalised, in addition to 400 from Texas.

A similar legal challenge is underway in Portland, Oregon, where 24 Democrat-led states have filed a case in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The states argue that the President’s decision to deploy National Guard troops in response to protests at an immigration facility violates the Constitution, as it invokes military force without the presence of rebellion or invasion.

Their filing warns that such action could set a dangerous precedent affecting civil liberties nationwide. Although no troops have been sent to Portland, federal officials have indicated plans to do so. The appeals court is expected to hear arguments in the coming weeks, and its ruling could influence future federal responses to domestic unrest.

Other cities, including Memphis, Baltimore, and several in California, have been identified as possible locations for troop deployment. In Memphis, the timeline remains uncertain, but some National Guard personnel are reportedly already involved in public safety roles.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has filed a separate lawsuit against the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security. The complaint accuses federal agents of using excessive force against demonstrators and journalists outside the Broadview ICE facility.

The ACLU cited multiple instances involving tear gas and projectiles. Seven individuals have been charged with federal offences related to those incidents.