Tensions Soar as 500 National Guard Troops Deploy to Chicago Despite Illinois Governor’s Opposition
A significant deployment of 500 National Guard members has arrived in the Chicago metropolitan area, set to remain active for an initial 60-day period. This move is happening amid legal challenges and fierce objections from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, highlighting a tense standoff over federal authority and state rights. But here's where it gets controversial: this deployment is unfolding even as a lawsuit contests its legality.
According to a statement issued Wednesday morning by U.S. Northern Command, part of the Department of Defense, around 200 National Guard personnel from various Texas units, along with approximately 300 from Illinois’s own National Guard units, have been activated and sent to the Chicagoland region. Governor Pritzker has publicly criticized this deployment, calling it an "unconstitutional invasion" and questioning the federal government’s intentions.
The troops are currently stationed at the Army Reserve center in Elwood, just outside Joliet, Illinois—about a one-hour drive southwest of central Chicago. U.S. Northern Command emphasized that these forces are tasked with protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal government employees who are enforcing federal laws, as well as safeguarding federal property.
The background to this controversy involves a legal confrontation: on Monday, both the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guard troops on Chicago streets. The lawsuit argues this action exceeds the administration’s authority and threatens local governance.
In the days leading up to the troop arrival, Governor Pritzker issued a strong statement accusing the federal government of orchestrating what he called "Trump’s Invasion." Expanding on this, he noted that what began with federal agents has escalated to the introduction of federalized Illinois National Guard members without state consent, now including troops from Texas. He warned, "The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props." Urging Americans to speak out, Pritzker framed the deployment as reckless and politically motivated.
The dispute intensified when former President Donald Trump used his platform on Truth Social to escalate rhetoric, stating that both Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson "should be in jail". Trump claimed the mayor failed to protect ICE officers, calling for their arrest. This marked a sharp public confrontation between the president and two prominent Democratic leaders.
For weeks leading up to this situation, Trump had threatened to send troops to Chicago as part of a broader campaign tackling crime and immigration enforcement. Democrats have consistently pushed back, accusing the president of using the military deployment as a political weapon against opponents and overstepping federal powers.
Governor Pritzker stood firm in response, tweeting, "I will not back down," and warning of a dangerous slide into authoritarianism. Mayor Johnson also reacted, pointing out that Trump has a history of trying to unjustly incarcerate Black leaders, affirming, "I’m not going anywhere."
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has pursued similar National Guard deployments in other cities, including Portland, Oregon. However, a judge recently issued a temporary restraining order blocking troops from being sent there while legal challenges proceed. Following this, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek ordered the immediate demobilization and return of Oregon’s National Guard troops stationed there and also recalled troops from California originally sent to Portland.
Governor Kotek condemned the federal effort, stating that the court’s ruling was a clear rejection of what she called President Trump’s improper use of state National Guard forces. She reminded the public that these citizen-soldiers are community members uprooted from their families and professions, deserving more respect.
It remains uncertain whether Governor Kotek’s directive to the U.S. Northern Command will be effective, as legal questions persist about a governor’s authority to recall federally activated National Guard troops. Both the governor’s office and U.S. Northern Command have not provided additional comments on this matter.
This confrontation highlights deep divisions over the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement and raises complex questions about federalism, civil liberties, and political strategy. Is this a necessary step to maintain law and order, or a dangerous political stunt that threatens democratic norms? The debate is far from over, and the nation watches closely.
Daniella Silva is a national reporter for NBC News who specializes in immigration and education coverage.
