Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed strong opposition to the Trump administration's announcement regarding the federalization of 300 Illinois National Guard members. The decision was communicated on Saturday by the Pentagon.
Pritzker stated, 'This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will.' He further criticized the move as 'absolutely outrageous and un-American' and indicative of federal overreach into state governance.
The Illinois National Guard's activation comes amidst a backdrop of heightened federal law enforcement activity that has been seen recently in cities such as Chicago. President Trump has hinted at deploying troops to address violence and unrest in urban areas, particularly in response to protests related to immigration policies.
Pritzker described the federal mobilization of the National Guard as a 'manufactured performance' that would disrupt the lives of servicemen and women by pulling them from their families and civilian jobs.
He further accused Trump of prioritizing control over safety, stating, 'For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control.' During this time, state and local officials have worked together to maintain safety around sensitive areas, such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Broadview facility located near Chicago.
Following this announcement, federal authorities reported arrests of protesters near the Broadview facility, revealing tensions surrounding ongoing immigration enforcement actions.
Notably, Trump has recently expanded federal troop deployments in various states, including Oregon. A court ruling regarding Pritzker's request to halt the deployment of Illinois National Guard troops is expected imminently.
