President Donald Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities has escalated tensions, prompting legal challenges from local officials.
Trump has cited rising crime and immigration issues as justification for sending troops to Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., despite opposition from mayors and governors who argue the deployments are unnecessary and unlawful.
On Monday, Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit to block the federalization of 300 Illinois Guard troops and the deployment of 400 Texas Guard troops to Chicago.
A federal judge allowed the deployment to proceed temporarily but ordered a government response by Wednesday.
In Portland, a federal judge blocked National Guard deployments until October 18, following Trump's use of Title 10 authority to send 200 troops.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the deployment of 300 California Guard members to Oregon a "breathtaking abuse of power."
Trump has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a 1807 law allowing presidents to deploy the military to quell unrest.
The act, last used in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots, would bypass restrictions on military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
Local officials, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, accuse Trump of exaggerating unrest to justify militarization.
In Chicago, protests against Trump's immigration policies have been mostly peaceful, with small demonstrations outside an immigration facility in Broadview.
Violent crime in the city has declined, contradicting Trump's portrayal of a "war zone."
In Portland, clashes near an ICE building led to arrests and injuries, but Oregon Governor Tina Kotek denied claims of an insurrection.
Legal experts question the legality of invoking the Insurrection Act, noting it applies only to major rebellions.
As lawsuits mount, the dispute tests the limits of presidential authority over state and local governance.