The US Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to allow Donald Trump to send National Guard troops to the Chicago area as the Republican president is expanding the use of the military for domestic purposes in Democratic-governed jurisdictions, a policy critics see as an attempt to punish adversaries and stifle dissent.
The justices left standing for now a court order blocking the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops in a legal challenge brought by Illinois officials and local leaders.
The United States Department of Justice had requested to authorize the deployment while the case was pending.
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“At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that allows the military to execute the laws in Illinois,” the court majority held in an unsigned opinion.
Three conservatives on the court said they disagreed with the decision: Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With information from Reuters.
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