Trump officials ask supreme court to permit national guard in Illinois | Trump administration

On Friday, the Trump administration asked the US supreme court to allow the deployment of national guard troops to Illinois; as the president seeks to expand the military’s domestic use in a growing number of Democratic-led cities.

In an emergency filing, the justice department urged the court to overturn a lower court order that halted the deployment of several hundred National Guard troops to the Chicago area. The district judge expressed doubts about the administration’s justification for sending troops and questioned its explanation in light of local conditions.

The federal appeals court on Thursday upheld the lower court’s ruling and put the mandate on hold while the legal challenge continues.

Late Friday evening, U.S. district judge Sara Ellis ordered federal officers to use body cameras. Officers trained and equipped with body-worn cameras are required to turn them on when conducting immigration enforcement activities, including interactions with the public, Ellis said.

The new measure follows an earlier temporary restraining order that required federal immigration officers to give warnings before using counter-riot weapons such as tear gas and to wear visible identification.

Ellis also said he wants representatives from federal immigration agencies to attend the hearing Monday to answer questions about how his order, which is valid through Nov. 6, is being implemented.

D John Sauer, the attorney general representing the administration, wrote in his new filing that federal agents were repeatedly “threatened and assaulted” in Chicago and in suburban Broadview, where the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention facility is located.

Trump also sent national guard units, previously deployed to Los Angeles, Memphis and Washington DC, to Chicago and Portland. The president argued that military intervention was necessary to reduce unrest and bolster immigration enforcement.

Trump and his supporters have framed the military’s role as essential to restoring order, depicting these cities as dangerous and hotspots of violent demonstrations.

Democratic officials have pushed back hard, saying the president’s claims are grossly exaggerated and politically motivated. They accuse Trump of abusing his power to punish his opponents.

The justices also expressed skepticism about the administration’s portrayal of events. Local leaders say protests over immigration enforcement have been mostly small and peaceful, contradicting Trump’s description of “war zone” conditions.

A recent report from the Guardian found that US military veterans are increasingly facing arrests and injuries during protests against Trump’s deportation campaign and his push to send national guard members to a growing number of American cities.

At the heart of the dispute is Trump’s use of a federal law that allows the president to federalize the national guard only in cases of insurrection or when “unable to enforce the laws of the United States with regular forces.” The administration insists the troops are needed to protect federal property and officials from protesters.

Earlier this month, the administration federalized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard and ordered additional Texas National Guard troops to be sent to the state.

While local leaders condemned the move, Trump stepped up his rhetoric and called for the arrest of the mayor of Chicago and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, on October 8, accusing them of failing to protect immigration officials.

Illinois and Chicago jointly sued the administration to halt the deployment. On October 9, district judge April Perry, appointed by Joe Biden, issued a temporary injunction blocking the decision.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, at least 11 people were detained outside the Broadview Ice detention center following heated clashes between Illinois state police and protesters.