A U.S. federal appeals court has blocked President Donald Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, Illinois.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 12th (local time), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled the previous day that National Guard troops dispatched to Chicago may remain in the area under federal control, but are prohibited from being put into operations while legal battles are underway.
Earlier, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the court of first instance, also halted the troop mobilization ordered by President Trump, saying it had "not seen decisive evidence that there is a risk of insurrection in Illinois," and the appeals court upheld the lower court's decision.
However, the appeals court said, "Unless the court separately issues a return order, National Guard members do not need to return to their home states." Currently, 200 Texas National Guard members and 300 Illinois National Guard members are mobilized in the Chicago area.
President Trump had already ordered troops to be sent to Chicago in response to crime crackdowns and protests against immigration enforcement. The U.S. National Guard is normally under the command of governors, but in emergencies can be mobilized at the federal level on the president's orders.
As courts continue to block President Trump's move to mobilize the National Guard for immigration enforcement, there is also speculation that Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act as a last resort. On the 7th, Trump said, "If necessary, I will do so (invoke the Insurrection Act)," adding, "If people continue to be killed by crime, or if courts, governors, or mayors block us, I will do so."