The Trump administration is set to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, prompting Governor JB Pritzker to voice strong opposition. He revealed that the Pentagon delivered the ultimatum to the state's National Guard on Saturday morning.
In his statement, Pritzker characterized the action as 'outrageous and un-American,' stating, 'It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.'
While Pritzker did not disclose specific deployment details, he noted the historical context of President Trump’s threats to send troops to Chicago and other major cities. He highlighted the ongoing protests related to immigration enforcement, which have seen state, county, and local law enforcement working together to manage the situation safely.
This latest federal initiative follows similar deployments in cities across the country, including Baltimore and Memphis, as part of a broader federal approach to law enforcement. In response to the activism against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Broadview facility, Pritzker suggested that federal actions were more about establishing control rather than ensuring public safety.
Pritzker dismissed the deployment as a 'manufactured performance' that disrupts the lives of National Guard members by pulling them away from their families and regular jobs. He remarked, 'For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control.'
The escalation of federal presence in Illinois has occurred alongside local officials' attempts to challenge the legality of the deployment. U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut heard arguments in a lawsuit from city and state officials aimed at preventing troop deployment.
As tensions mount in various urban environments, advocates continue to call into question the motivations behind the federalizing of National Guard troops, amidst a backdrop of protests and civil unrest across the nation.
