Summary
Members of the Texas National Guard have arrived in Illinois, specifically at an Army Reserve training facility in a Chicago suburb, as confirmed by sources and video footage. Texas Governor Greg Abbott authorized the deployment, sharing images of the Guard boarding a plane, but did not specify their destination.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker strongly opposed the deployment, calling it an “authoritarian march” by the Trump administration and vowing to resist the use of military troops against American communities. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated he received no advance notice about the troops and called the deployment “illegal, unconstitutional, dangerous, and wrong.”
Illinois and Chicago have filed a lawsuit to block the federalization and deployment of the National Guard, arguing it threatens the principle separating the military from domestic affairs. Pritzker accused Trump of using service members as political props, referencing a recent ICE raid in Chicago that was filmed and shared on social media.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the deployment for protecting federal buildings, while some senators questioned whether it masked deeper issues. Chicago officials maintain there is no crime emergency to justify the deployment, citing police statistics showing significant drops in homicides and shootings compared to the previous year.
Pritzker alleged the administration is trying to create chaos and fear to justify invoking the Insurrection Act. President Trump said he has not yet enacted the Insurrection Act but would consider it if necessary.
Key Quotes
- “Illinois will not let the Trump administration continue on their authoritarian march without resisting.” — Gov. JB Pritzker
- “We have not heard directly, of course, from the president or his administration…” — Mayor Brandon Johnson
- “Let me be clear, Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities.” — Gov. JB Pritzker
Crime Statistics
- Homicides in Chicago are down 28% compared to the first nine months of 2024.
- Shooting incidents are down 35%.
Lawsuit
Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit to block the federalization and deployment of the National Guard, citing the threat to the foundational principle separating the military from domestic affairs.
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