Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to federalize 300 Illinois National Guard troops on Saturday, even as a federal court in Oregon temporarily halted a similar deployment there. The move marks another escalation in the president’s controversial use of federal authority to intervene in cities he has characterized as “lawless” and “war-ravaged.”
Illinois Governor Pushes Back
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, condemned the Trump administration’s decision, calling it “outrageous and un-American.” In a sharply worded statement, Pritzker said, “This morning, the Trump administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely unacceptable for Washington to demand that a governor deploy the National Guard against our own residents.”
The administration’s plan to take federal control of Illinois troops mirrors similar actions in other Democratic-led states, part of a broader initiative Trump has justified as necessary to combat crime and disorder. Critics, however, view it as an overreach of presidential power — a move that undermines state sovereignty and fuels political tensions.
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Oregon Deployment Halted by Court
While Illinois braces for a potential federal takeover of its National Guard, a U.S. District Court in Oregon ruled against the administration’s attempt to deploy 200 Guard troops in Portland. Judge Karin J. Immergut issued a temporary restraining order, finding that the president’s directive likely exceeds his legal authority and intrudes upon Oregon’s constitutional rights.
“The relatively small protests in Portland do not justify the use of federalized military forces,” Judge Immergut wrote. “This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs.”
She further emphasized, “This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law.”
The Oregon ruling came after state and city officials jointly filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s order to send troops to protect a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. The officials argued that the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the military from being used for domestic law enforcement without congressional approval.
Protests and Federal Response in Portland
Before Judge Immergut’s order was announced, about 400 protesters gathered in Portland to march toward the ICE detention facility. The demonstrators, including families and retirees, protested what they described as federal intimidation and unlawful militarization of the city.
Federal agents responded with tear gas, pepper balls, and “less-lethal” munitions to disperse the crowd, arresting at least six people, according to The Oregonian. By late afternoon, the protest had largely dispersed.
President Trump has repeatedly referred to Portland as “war-ravaged,” citing disorder and vandalism near federal properties. However, Oregon officials have accused him of misrepresenting the city’s situation, noting that most of his claims rely on outdated images from 2020, when violent clashes erupted during racial justice protests following George Floyd’s death.
Escalation in Chicago and Illinois
Meanwhile, tensions in Illinois have risen following the announcement of the federalization plan. In Chicago, federal agents in camouflage have been seen patrolling downtown areas, alarming residents and local officials. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Border Patrol agents shot a woman during an operation on the city’s southwest side Saturday morning.
According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, agents were boxed in by vehicles and “forced to fire defensively” after a suspect attempted to run them over. The woman, identified as a U.S. citizen armed with a semiautomatic weapon, was taken to a hospital in fair condition.
Immigration advocates and local leaders criticized the federal presence, saying it risks racial profiling and escalates fear in immigrant communities. Protesters near the ICE processing center in Broadview, Illinois, have staged daily rallies against federal actions, leading to the arrest of 13 people on Friday.
Governor Pritzker said the administration’s actions “undermine trust between local law enforcement and the people they serve” and vowed to challenge the federal order in court.
Expanding Federal Intervention
Since the start of his second term, President Trump has ordered or threatened troop deployments in at least 10 cities, including Baltimore, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Memphis, and several California cities such as Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued directives to Justice Department agencies, including the FBI, to prioritize the protection of ICE facilities in Chicago and Portland. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been overseeing new task forces combining federal and local law enforcement.
In Memphis, Tennessee, a newly formed federal task force began operating this week as part of Trump’s broader “crime-fighting initiative.” More than 200 officers were deputized, including personnel from immigration and drug enforcement agencies. Over a two-day span, officials reported 50 arrests, many stemming from traffic stops and outstanding warrants.
While Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, has welcomed the deployment, some residents expressed concern that the crackdown could lead to racial profiling and civil rights violations.
Louisiana Requests Troops Amid Mixed Crime Trends
In contrast to Oregon and Illinois, Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry requested a National Guard deployment in late September to assist cities like New Orleans, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge, citing “elevated violent crime rates.” However, local data shows that violent crime in New Orleans has actually declined in 2025, putting the city on track for its lowest homicide rate in over 50 years.
Landry praised Trump’s decision to send troops to Washington and Memphis, saying the move “restores order where local governments have failed.”
Legal Battle in California Continues
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom continues to fight Trump’s earlier deployment of National Guard troops and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles. A federal judge ruled that the move was likely unlawful, granting a temporary block, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later paused that ruling while the administration’s appeal proceeds.
The appellate panel signaled that the administration may ultimately prevail, though a final decision has yet to be reached.
A Divided Nation Over Federal Authority
The simultaneous court block in Oregon and mobilization in Illinois highlight a growing constitutional and political conflict between the federal government and individual states. Legal experts say the unfolding disputes could determine the limits of presidential power in domestic military use for years to come.
“The balance between national security and state sovereignty is being tested like never before,” said Professor Elaine Thompson, a constitutional law expert at the University of Chicago. “The courts will now decide whether the president can use the National Guard as a political tool under the guise of public safety.”
As courtrooms fill and protests continue, one thing is clear: America’s internal struggle over power, law, and democracy is far from over.
