Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois announced that the Trump administration plans to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, a move he condemned on Saturday. The Pentagon communicated the order earlier in the day, although specifics regarding deployment locations and timings were not disclosed. President Trump has previously suggested sending troops to Chicago amidst ongoing tensions.
Pritzker stated, “This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.” His office has yet to provide further details on this matter.
This escalation echoes similar federal troop deployments across the nation, including major cities like Baltimore, Memphis, and Los Angeles. According to Pritzker, this situation detracts local National Guard members from their typical duties and affects their families significantly.
“For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,” he remarked, noting that local law enforcement has been proactively working to ensure safety around a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility outside of Chicago.
In a heightened atmosphere of immigration enforcement, federal authorities reported the arrest of 13 individuals protesting near this facility, which has been a focus of protests in the past months. Meanwhile, Trump has asserted that he is deploying federal troops to locations like Portland, Oregon, describing them as 'war-ravaged.' Local officials have often refuted his claims, suggesting they stem from outdated imagery.
Pritzker's administration has actively sought legal avenues to challenge this deployment, with a U.S. District Court hearing having taken place recently. The outcome of this situation remains to be seen as both city and state officials voice their discontent against the federalization order.
