Former national security leaders filed an amicus brief in Illinois v. Trump, expressing concerns that the deployment of federalized National Guard in and around Chicago risks violating the Posse Comitatus Act and politicizing the military.

Chicago, IL — Eight former service secretaries and retired four-star admirals and generals—including members of Count Every Hero—filed an amicus brief in Illinois v. Trump in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, highlighting the risks posed by the domestic deployment to the troops and the public.

In the brief, these leaders emphasize that the military is prohibited from acting in a domestic law enforcement capacity without express congressional authorization as codified in the Posse Comitatus Act, that potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act diverts troops from their primary mission, and that members of the National Guard are not sufficiently trained to operate in the context of domestic law enforcement.

“Domestic law enforcement—particularly in emotionally charged situations and instances of civil unrest—requires a specific skill set for which law enforcement officers train extensively and continually, including training in de-escalation and in respecting civilians’ constitutional rights on U.S. soil…Our tradition of entrusting domestic law enforcement to local, state, and federal police has allowed the military to remain focused on its core mission.”

The former service secretaries and retired admirals and generals warn that adding the military to an already fraught environment would increase tensions and the risk of the use of deadly force in Illinois. In order to protect the safety of troops and civilians alike and maintain the apolitical nature of the military, they warn that deploying the military to assist with law enforcement should be a last resort, particularly in a politically charged situation.

Read the full amicus brief here.