Appeals court restores federal control but bars Chicago deployment

A federal appeals court on Saturday issued a narrow ruling that restores presidential control over hundreds of National Guard members ordered to Illinois while a legal challenge proceeds, but left in place a district court order that bars their deployment into Chicago. The decision effectively allows the troops to remain in the state under federal authority but prevents them from conducting operations on city streets as courts weigh the constitutionality of the administration's actions.

U.S. District Judge April Perry on Thursday had issued a 14 day temporary restraining order blocking both the federalization of the Illinois Guard and any deployment, saying the addition of military forces risked inflaming tensions and that she saw no credible evidence of a rebellion in Illinois. The restraining order is set to expire just before midnight on October 23; Judge Perry scheduled a phone hearing on October 22 to consider whether to extend it. In court, she said, "I have seen no credible evidence that there is danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois," and questioned the administration's factual basis for the move.

The appeals court granted a short administrative stay on the...