Hundreds of National Guard troops sent from Texas arrived in Illinois as part of an unprecedented deployment this week with a directive from the Trump Administration to protect federal immigration agents “in places where there are violent demonstrations.” A Pentagon official on Tuesday confirmed to WTTW News that 200 federalized Texas National Guard troops had arrived in Illinois with orders to protect “federal functions, personnel, and property” — or more specifically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out “Operation Midway Blitz.” As of this morning, lawyers for the state of Illinois and Chicago told a federal judge early today that the Trump administration sent California National Guard troops under federal authority to Illinois. "This lawless targeting by the President and his administration of people and places he does not favor will not stop without court intervention," stated the filing from lawyers for the state and city. "The Court can and should stop this authoritarian march. We remain a nation of laws." Most troops are currently stationed in the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, 55 miles southwest of Chicago.
Where might the troops be deployed? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a memo the troops would be deployed “in places where there are violent demonstrations in the state, or where they’re likely to occur based on current threat assessments.”
ICE does not run any immigrant detention centers in Illinois, but it does have two other facilities: its field office in downtown Chicago, and the processing center in west suburban Broadview. If the National Guard troops have orders to protect ICE agents and property, it’s likely they’ll be sent to Broadview. But there have also been recent incidents with federal agents in Chicago.
What is going on in Broadview? The Broadview processing center has been the site of repeated protests in which federal agents have utilized tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets to disperse crowds gathered outside.
The village’s mayor has accused ICE of “making war” in the community there, as those chemical munitions have harmed residents, police and first responders, in addition to peaceful protesters legally exercising their First Amendment rights. What about in Chicago?
While ICE’s Chicago field office has not seen the same level of protests as Broadview, there have been several incidents involving federal agents in Chicago in recent days. What about the state’s lawsuit?
A federal judge is set to rule Thursday morning on a temporary restraining order requested by Chicago and Illinois officials that could halt the National Guard deployment.
