National Guard Deployments Face Legal Challenges Amid Political Tensions

Sat Oct 11 2025 00:34:10 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As National Guard troops prepare to patrol Memphis, a federal judge blocks troop deployments in Chicago, highlighting a contentious political backdrop. The legal discussions revolve around the legality of such troops being sent to various U.S. cities amidst claims of rising crime, with differing perspectives from state leaders.

National Guard troops are set to begin patrolling Memphis following a legal blockade of their deployment in Chicago. A federal judge's ruling argued against the need for military presence to combat a supposed threat of rebellion in Illinois. The situation signifies a clash between state and federal authorities about the necessity and legality of National Guard presence in urban environments, amidst ongoing concerns about crime and public safety.

National Guard troops were expected Friday to begin patrolling in Memphis, a day after a federal judge in Illinois blocked the deployment of troops in the Chicago area for at least two weeks.

The on-again, off-again deployments are the result of a political and legal battle over President Donald Trump’s push to send the National Guard to several U.S. cities. His administration claims crime is rampant in those cities, despite statistics not always backing that up.

If a president invokes the Insurrection Act, they can dispatch active duty military in states that fail to manage insurrections or defy federal law, but the judge in Chicago stated she found no substantial evidence of a brewing “danger of rebellion” in Illinois during Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The ruling was hailed as a victory for Democratic officials who lead the state and city.

“The court confirmed what we all know: There is no credible evidence of a rebellion in the state of Illinois. And no place for the National Guard in the streets of American cities like Chicago,” stated Gov. JB Pritzker.

In Tennessee, where Republican Gov. Bill Lee supports the deployment, the troops are expected to serve as “additional eyes and ears” in Memphis, supporting local, state, and federal agencies, according to a city website.

The order in Illinois is set to expire on October 23 at 11:59 p.m., and U.S. District Judge April Perry has scheduled an October 22 hearing to determine if it should be extended for another 14 days.

In her ruling, she indicated that the administration violated the 10th Amendment, which grants certain powers to states, and the 14th Amendment, ensuring due process and equal protection.

Meanwhile, U.S. Justice Department lawyer Eric Hamilton asserted that the Guard’s mission was to protect federal properties and aid law enforcement, not to address all criminal activities in Chicago.

Marking the complexities of this debate, various states have expressed differing opinions about the deployments, with twenty supportive of the administration's actions and two dozen voicing legal challenges against it.

This situation continues to unfold, reflecting a significant political divide on the role of federal troops in handling local law enforcement concerns.