CHICAGO (AP) — 'The Trump administration's controversial plan to send hundreds of National Guard troops to the Chicago area is meeting fierce resistance from state officials. With the legal challenge around the deployment still unfolding, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emerged as a vocal critic, suggesting the troops are being utilized as political tools in President Trump's ongoing campaign narrative.
Pritzker outlined that approximately 300 Illinois National Guard members would be federalized alongside another 400 troops from Texas. He remarked, 'He wants to justify and normalize the presence of armed soldiers under his direct command,' condemning the move as leveraging troops for political purposes.
A federal judge has given the Trump administration merely two days to respond to a lawsuit that Illinois and Chicago filed against the proposed deployment. The lawsuit articulates that such actions are an unlawful escalation in Trump's 'War' against the cities.
As cities across the nation, including Portland, experience similar controversies, tensions continue to rise as politicians and citizens voice their opinions against military presence in urban areas. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has responded to federal actions by formally barring immigration enforcement agents from using city property, showcasing a commitment to uphold local governance amid federal overreach.
This backdrop of escalating military presence illuminates the broader struggles between federal and state powers, as local leaders resist perceived intrusions from Washington. The clash over the deployment echoes nationwide, emphasizing the growing divide between state officials and the federal government as they navigate complex issues of immigration and public safety.
