Hundreds of National Guard troops from Texas have arrived at an army training centre outside Chicago to support US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Trump has branded Chicago a war zone, following recent protests against federal immigration officials in the third-largest US city.
The deployment comes amid opposition from local officials. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has accused the Trump administration of an authoritarian march and said the state would use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab.
Sources told CBS News that some troops could begin their assignments as early as Wednesday. Trailers have been set up as temporary living quarters on the Army Reserve Training Center about 50 miles (80km) south-west of Chicago, with fencing erected around the facility.
Local officials say they have received few details about the troop assignments. Trump argues the use of the troops is necessary to quell violence in Democratic-controlled cities, crack down on crime, and support his deportation initiatives.
National Guard troops have limited power; they do not enforce the law or make arrests, but their role involves protecting federal officers and property. Troops have already been deployed in cities like Los Angeles and Washington, DC, with further orders for Memphis and Portland, although a federal judge has barred troops from entering Portland temporarily.
Chicago has seen an increase in protests regarding immigration enforcement, particularly outside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Last weekend, an incident involving US Border Patrol personnel resulted in a woman being shot and injured, after cars were used to ram immigration enforcement vehicles.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday regarding a lawsuit filed by Illinois and Chicago to prevent the federalization of National Guard troops from Texas. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed that bringing in troops from another state without consent is illegal and dangerous. He also signed an executive order banning ICE agents from operating on city-owned properties.
The deployment raises legal and constitutional questions as National Guard troops are typically deployed by state governors. The Trump administration is even considering invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow military personnel to perform law enforcement duties domestically, if courts restrict the troop deployment. Trump has remarked, if the governor can't do the job, we'll do the job regarding Chicago.
Trump has branded Chicago a war zone, following recent protests against federal immigration officials in the third-largest US city.
The deployment comes amid opposition from local officials. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has accused the Trump administration of an authoritarian march and said the state would use every lever at our disposal to stop this power grab.
Sources told CBS News that some troops could begin their assignments as early as Wednesday. Trailers have been set up as temporary living quarters on the Army Reserve Training Center about 50 miles (80km) south-west of Chicago, with fencing erected around the facility.
Local officials say they have received few details about the troop assignments. Trump argues the use of the troops is necessary to quell violence in Democratic-controlled cities, crack down on crime, and support his deportation initiatives.
National Guard troops have limited power; they do not enforce the law or make arrests, but their role involves protecting federal officers and property. Troops have already been deployed in cities like Los Angeles and Washington, DC, with further orders for Memphis and Portland, although a federal judge has barred troops from entering Portland temporarily.
Chicago has seen an increase in protests regarding immigration enforcement, particularly outside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Last weekend, an incident involving US Border Patrol personnel resulted in a woman being shot and injured, after cars were used to ram immigration enforcement vehicles.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday regarding a lawsuit filed by Illinois and Chicago to prevent the federalization of National Guard troops from Texas. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed that bringing in troops from another state without consent is illegal and dangerous. He also signed an executive order banning ICE agents from operating on city-owned properties.
The deployment raises legal and constitutional questions as National Guard troops are typically deployed by state governors. The Trump administration is even considering invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow military personnel to perform law enforcement duties domestically, if courts restrict the troop deployment. Trump has remarked, if the governor can't do the job, we'll do the job regarding Chicago.