Trump Administration Moves To Federalize 300 Illinois National Guard Troops
The Trump administration plans to federalize approximately 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, according to Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who voiced strong opposition to the move.
Governor Pritzker stated Saturday that the state’s National Guard received notification from the Pentagon regarding the federal call-up. While the deployment timing and location were not specified, President Donald Trump has previously indicated a desire to send federal troops to Chicago.
“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” Pritzker said in a statement. He characterized the demand as “absolutely outrageous and un-American,” arguing it forces a governor to deploy military troops within their borders against their will. Pritzker further called the action a “manufactured performance” and asserted, “For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control.”
The federalization of National Guard troops in Illinois follows similar deployments elsewhere in the country, including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The Tennessee National Guard is also expected to assist police in Memphis.
The move comes amid increased federal law enforcement activity, including a surge of immigration enforcement in the Chicago area, where 13 people were arrested Friday near an ICE facility. The governor noted that state, county, and local law enforcement have been coordinating security for the facility.
Legal challenges have met similar deployments. California Governor Gavin Newsom won a temporary block on the Los Angeles deployment, a ruling the Trump administration has appealed. In Oregon, where the administration federalized 200 National Guard troops, city and state officials have also sued to stop a deployment, with a ruling pending.
READ MORE: Armed Woman Shot By ICE In Chicago Amid Violent Protests, National Guard Called-Up
READ MORE: Illinois Gov. Pritzker Dismisses ‘Propaganda’ As DHS Alleges Ambush Of ICE Agents Near Chicago
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