Garrity repeatedly signaled she would allow Trump to overstep his authority and deploy federal forces against Pennsylvanians. In September 2025, Garrity said she would be open to Trump sending federal forces and National Guard troops against Philadelphia residents. In February 2026, when asked how she would handle a surge of protests over federal immigration operations in Pennsylvania, Garrity called for local cooperation with federal immigration and claimed anti-ICE demonstrators were “well-coordinated” “paid protestors.”
In December 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump did not have the authority to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago. Despite this ruling, Trump suggested he would “not hesitate to deploy troops in the future.”
The Trump administration faced repeated legal challenges for overstepping its authority in deploying federal forces without the consent of governors and mayors across several American cities. In January 2026, Minnesota and Illinois sued the Trump administration over its deployment of federal agents to the Twin Cities and Chicago for immigration operations, arguing the unprecedented deployment of federal officers was a “federal invasion” and unconstitutional violation of the Tenth Amendment.
September 2025: Garrity Said She Would Be Open To Trump Sending The National Guard To Philadelphia Because The City Had “Another Shooting […] Every Other Day.” According to Garrity in an interview with CBS 21, “INTERVIEWER: The federal government, led by Donald Trump, has said we want to put National Guard troops in some of these cities that need some help or have some crime numbers they don't like. Would you, as governor, welcome in that help to cities like Philadelphia or Harrisburg? GARRITY: I'm not so sure that we need that in Harrisburg. Philadelphia? Look, I think parents want to know that their kids can be out on the streets or playing in playgrounds without worrying about their safety. And so Philadelphia, it seems like they have a, you know, another shooting there, you know, every other day. So Philadelphia, I think, could use something, whether it's us, you know, as a state, beefing up our police force or it's help from the feds. You know, I'd be open to whatever it takes to make our community safe.” [Stacy Garrity Interview – CBS 21, 9/1/25] (VIDEO)
February 2026: At A McKean County Republican Party Meet And Greet, Garrity Was Asked How She Would Handle A Potential Surge Of Anti-Federal Immigration Protests In Pennsylvania, And Garrity Contrasted States That Cooperate With Federal Immigration With States Who Do Not. According to MeidasTouch News, “Newly uncovered audio reviewed by MeidasTouch shows Pennsylvania Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity saying that she believed anti-ICE demonstrators in Minneapolis were ‘paid protestors,’ making the remarks during a meet and greet hosted by the McKean County Republican Party on February 9 in Smethport. Responding to a question about how she would handle a potential surge of immigration enforcement protests in Pennsylvania if elected governor, Garrity contrasted states that cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement with those that do not. She said that in states where ICE can access local jails to pick up individuals with detainers, ‘you take two people in, you go get them. There’s no protest, there’s no drama, there’s nothing.’ In states that do not cooperate, she said, ‘it takes like, 15 ICE agents, and then you have protests.’” [MeidasTouch News, 2/14/26]
HEADLINE: “Pennsylvania GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Claims Anti-ICE Protests Are ‘Paid’ And ‘Well Coordinated’” [MeidasTouch News, 2/14/26]
February 2026: At A McKean County Republican Party Meet And Greet, Garrity Claimed Anti-ICE Demonstrators In Minneapolis Were “Paid Protestors” And Claimed There Were “No Protest[s]” And “No Drama” In States Where ICE Could Access Local Jails To Pick Up Detained Migrants. According to MeidasTouch News, “Newly uncovered audio reviewed by MeidasTouch shows Pennsylvania Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity saying that she believed anti-ICE demonstrators in Minneapolis were ‘paid protestors,’ making the remarks during a meet and greet hosted by the McKean County Republican Party on February 9 in Smethport. Responding to a question about how she would handle a potential surge of immigration enforcement protests in Pennsylvania if elected governor, Garrity contrasted states that cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement with those that do not. She said that in states where ICE can access local jails to pick up individuals with detainers, ‘you take two people in, you go get them. There’s no protest, there’s no drama, there’s nothing.’ In states that do not cooperate, she said, ‘it takes like, 15 ICE agents, and then you have protests.’” [MeidasTouch News, 2/14/26]
December 2025: The U.S. Supreme Court Ruled Trump Did Not Have The Authority To Send National Guard Troops To Chicago For Domestic Law Enforcement, Prompting Trump To Withdraw National Guard Troops From Several U.S. Cities. According to BBC, “US President Donald Trump has said he is withdrawing National Guard troops from several US cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, after a Supreme Court ruling last week undermined his authority to use troops for policing. ‘We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social on New Year's Eve. Earlier on Tuesday, the Trump administration withdrew its legal attempts to keep control of troops deployed in LA. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not use troops in Chicago for domestic law enforcement. […] The Supreme Court ruled last week in Trump v Illinois that the president did not have the authority to send troops into Chicago.” [BBC, 12/31/25]
In Announcing His Withdrawal Of National Guard Troops In Several Cities After The U.S. Supreme Court Ruled He Could Not Deploy Troops Into Chicago Over Illinois Officials’ Objections, Trump “Suggested His Administration Would Not Hesitate To Deploy Troops In The Future.” According to the New York Times, “President Trump said on Wednesday that he would abandon, for now, efforts to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore. The decision comes after the Supreme Court ruled last week that Mr. Trump could not deploy troops in the Chicago area over the objections of Illinois officials. The president’s announcement made no mention of the ruling, but he suggested his administration would not hesitate to deploy troops in the future. ‘We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again — Only a question of time,’ he wrote on Truth Social.” [New York Times, 12/31/25]
2025: The Trump Administration Faced Several Legal Challenges Over His Authority To Deploy National Guard Troops After He Deployed Federal Forces To Democratic-Run Cities, Which Critics Claimed Was An “Authoritarian” Overreach. According to BBC, “Trump's decision to order the deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic-run cities set off a series of legal cases challenging his authority to do so. The troops are normally under the authority of state governors. […] Trump has said the troops are needed to enforce the law and crack down on crime and illegal immigration. Critics deny that the troops are necessary, and accuse Trump of attempting an ‘authoritarian’ crackdown, which threatens democracy.” [BBC, 12/31/25]
October 2025: Pennsylvania Joined Several States In A Lawsuit Against Trump’s Deployments Of National Guard Troops In American Cities Without The Consent Of Governors, Arguing It Was An “Incredibly Dangerous And An Unprecedented Infringement On States’ Rights.” According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “Pennsylvania has joined several states taking legal action against President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced on Wednesday night. ‘Deploying the National Guard to patrol American cities over the wishes of their governors is incredibly dangerous and an unprecedented infringement on states’ rights,’ Shapiro wrote on social media. ‘Pennsylvania just took legal action to support our fellow states and put an end to the dangerous overreach of power we are seeing with Donald Trump’s Guard deployments.’” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 10/9/25]
September 2025: After Trump Deployed The National Guard In Los Angeles, D.C., And Memphis, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner Held Town Halls To Advice Citizens What They Should Do In The Event That Trump Deployed Federal Forces In Philadelphia Under The Guise Of Combatting Crime. According to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, “Since being sworn in for a second term, President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles and Washington D.C., and more are on their way to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of what he said is an effort to restore law and order. In recent weeks, Gov. Josh Shapiro has faced questions about how Pennsylvania would respond if the president turned his attention to Philadelphia. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has been outspoken on the issue. His office held three public events last week to provide advice for what citizens should do, while also sharply criticizing the president’s approach. […] The events were billed as the ‘Be the Light and Bring the Light’ town halls, taking place on three straight nights in different neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Each event ended with Krasner responding to some of the questions submitted via card by audience members. Krasner said that Trump’s claims of crime being out of control in several big cities, like Philadelphia, were off base. He said he believes there is a different reason.” [Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 9/22/25]
January 2026: Minnesota And Illinois Sued The Trump Administration Over The Deployment Of Federal Forces, Arguing They Were Violating The Tenth Amendment, Which Protected State Sovereignty. According to Politico, “The state of Minnesota and the municipal governments of Minneapolis and St. Paul filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block the Department of Homeland Security from executing a planned surge of federal immigration officers to the Twin Cities. […] Earlier on Monday, Illinois officials filed a similar lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from conducting immigration enforcement in the state. Immigration agents have been conducting large-scale enforcement actions in Chicago for months. Both lawsuits argued the Trump administration is violating the Tenth Amendment, which protects the sovereignty of states. In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin criticized the legal argument used by both states.” [Politico, 1/12/26]
January 2026: The State Of Minnesota And The Twin Cities Sued The Trump Administration, Alleging An “Unprecedented Federal Immigration Operation In The State Is ‘A Federal Invasion.’” According to CNN, “The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities are suing the Trump administration, arguing the unprecedented federal immigration operation in the state is ‘a federal invasion,’ and seeking a court order halting the crackdown, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.” [CNN, 1/12/26]
January 2026: The State Of Illinois And The City Of Chicago Sued The Trump Administration, Claiming The Department Of Homeland Security “Terrorized Residents In ‘Organized Bombardment.’” According to CNN, “The suit was filed shortly after Illinois and the city of Chicago also sued the Trump administration, alleging the Department of Homeland Security has terrorized residents in ‘organized bombardment.’ Both suits argue the federal government is violating the Tenth Amendment.” [CNN, 1/12/26]