Legal Battles Over National Guard Deployments Intensify Across the U.S.

Sat Oct 25 2025 06:08:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

President Trump's attempts to deploy the National Guard in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles face significant legal challenges from state officials and court rulings, placing military deployments in limbo.

In recent weeks, President Trump's efforts to deploy the National Guard in Democratic-led cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland have sparked a series of court challenges and parallel rulings. A federal judge in Chicago temporarily blocked the deployment, while similar legal skirmishes are ongoing in California and Oregon, with appeals courts weighing the legality of such actions. In addition, lawsuits are being filed by local officials and organizations to prevent deployment in Memphis and Washington, D.C., citing violations of state laws and the Posse Comitatus Act.

CHICAGO (AP) — President Trump’s attempts to deploy the National Guard in Democratic-led cities over the objections of local leaders have ignited a whirlwind of legal challenges across the United States.

As the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates on the legality of troop deployments in various cities, including Chicago, state officials in California and other regions have initiated court actions to contest the federal government's authority to send military personnel into their jurisdictions.

In Chicago, a federal judge has temporarily halted the deployment of National Guard troops, extending the initial block for an additional 30 days. The situation remains precarious, as the Supreme Court could intervene at any time. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has signaled it may accept a temporary extension of the block while still seeking a ruling that would allow for troop deployment.

In Portland, Oregon, the deployment of 200 National Guard troops is also on hold due to conflicting court rulings, showcasing the complicated legal landscape surrounding these actions. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued several temporary restraining orders preventing the president from calling up troops indefinitely.

Meanwhile, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel is set to hear arguments related to California’s challenge against Trump’s military deployments in Los Angeles. The district court had found the president's actions violated federal law, but the appeals court's emergency ruling allowed federal control to remain during the ongoing litigation.

The legal wrangling is not limited to the West Coast. In Tennessee, Democratic officials are also taking legal action to stop National Guard deployments in Memphis, which they allege violate state constitutional provisions governing the military's use.

As legal battles unfold, the implications for local governance and the rule of law in the U.S. remain significant, with numerous cases illustrating the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over National Guard deployment.