While Trump is mulling over sending the National Guard to Chicago, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday the deployment of the same group to Los Angeles was illegal.
According to The Hill, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer stated the actions of the National Guard violated a 1878 law that banned federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement.
“This was intentional—Defendants instigated a months-long deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles for the purpose of establishing a military presence there and enforcing federal law. Such conduct is a serious violation of the Posse Comitatus Act,” Breyer wrote.
Following the ruling, Trump appeared in the Oval Office and was coy about when he would deploy the National Guard to Illinois, and stated he would accept a phone call from state Governor J.B. Pritzker if he asked for help.