In a dramatic escalation of federal intervention in U.S. cities, President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment and federalization of National Guard troops to Chicago, Portland, and other urban centers, sparking fierce debate, legal challenges, and protests on the ground. The move, which unfolded over the first weekend of October 2025, marks a significant test of presidential authority and the boundaries between federal and state power, as reported by multiple news outlets including ABC News, NPR, and Reuters.
On October 5, 2025, the Pentagon confirmed it had taken federal control of at least 300 Illinois National Guard troops, with orders to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago. This decision followed weeks of mounting tension and demonstrations outside immigration enforcement facilities, particularly the Broadview ICE processing center just outside Chicago. Protesters, local officials, and immigrant rights advocates have voiced growing concern about the presence and tactics of federal agents in their communities.
"The Illinois National Guard communicated to the Department of War that the situation in Illinois does not require the use of the military and, as a result, the Governor opposes the deployment of the national guard under any status," stated Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, according to ABC News. Pritzker, a Democrat, has repeatedly objected to increased federal involvement in state affairs, arguing that it threatens civil liberties and stokes unnecessary conflict.
The weekend saw further escalation when President Trump ordered 400 members of the Texas National Guard to be deployed not only to Illinois but also to Oregon and other locations. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed his support for the move, saying, "I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials. You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it."
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul quickly vowed legal action, declaring, "As the federal judge in Oregon recognized, 'this is a nation of Constitutional law not martial law.' Within 24 hours we will be filing a legal challenge to the President's unlawful deployment of the National Guard." The sentiment was echoed by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who addressed a crowd at a CAIR-Chicago event, calling the federal government's actions "the act of authoritarianism in a time our world desperately needs us to come together."
Protests outside the Broadview ICE facility continued into Sunday, October 5, with local and state police standing by. Demonstrators expressed deep unease at the prospect of troops on Chicago's streets. "It would be sad to see troops in that position," said protester Harold Garcia. "They know they are working for a clown and have to follow orders." Another protester, Samantha Bartolo, shared, "I am a second generation of an Italian immigrant, and what's happening to the immigrants in this country is wrong."
The Department of Homeland Security, however, defended its operations. Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox and Friends, "Everyday when we are doing our operations, when I am there with them people on the streets are clapping. They are clapping as these officers are arresting these criminals." Governor Pritzker, disputing Noem's claims in an interview with CNN, countered, "The secretary does not know what she is talking about. She says people are clapping, no they are booing her on the street, and they are booing ICE and CBP."
The weekend's protests remained largely peaceful, though law enforcement reported several arrests: one on Sunday and six the day before, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Federal officials noted that 13 protesters had been arrested on Friday near the Broadview facility. Tensions further escalated when federal agents shot a woman on Chicago's Southwest Side after agents were rammed by vehicles; the woman, a U.S. citizen armed with a semiautomatic weapon, was hospitalized in fair condition, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, a similar federal mobilization was temporarily blocked by U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who found that the President was likely overstepping his legal authority. 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... This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law." Her ruling cited the relatively small scale of Portland's protests and emphasized state sovereignty.
Undeterred, the Pentagon announced on October 5 and 6 that it would reassign about 200 federalized California National Guard members from Los Angeles to Portland. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated, "At the direction of the President, approximately 200 federalized members of the California National Guard are being reassigned from duty in the greater Los Angeles area to Portland, Oregon to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property," according to Reuters.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek refused to call up her state's National Guard, prompting President Trump to order the deployment himself, which triggered lawsuits from city and state officials. California Governor Gavin Newsom also objected to the redeployment of his state's troops, indicating plans to pursue legal action against the federal government. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson, in response, argued that local leaders should "stand on the side of law-abiding citizens instead of violent criminals destroying Portland."
These deployments are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration, which has sent or discussed sending troops to at least ten cities since the start of the President's second term—including Baltimore, Memphis, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The stated aim is to protect federal personnel and property amid what the administration describes as ongoing violent riots and lawlessness. However, critics point out that crime rates in some targeted cities, such as New Orleans and Chicago, have actually declined in recent months.
President Trump has been outspoken in his criticism of local officials and the judiciary. Expressing frustration over Judge Immergut's ruling, he remarked, "I wasn't served well by the people that picked judges... Portland is burning to the ground." The President has characterized cities like Portland and Chicago as beset by crime and unrest, using terms like "war zone" and suggesting that only forceful federal intervention can restore order.
Yet, as NPR's Luke Garrett noted, the legal and political powers of the presidency are now being tested as governors and attorneys general mount legal challenges. "President Trump has developed a playbook, and he's using it," Garrett observed. The ultimate question—when can a president take over a state's National Guard—may soon be decided by the Supreme Court.
As the deployments proceed and legal battles intensify, the nation watches closely, grappling with fundamental questions about federalism, civil liberties, and the appropriate use of military force within U.S. borders.
