Sen. Duckworth: 300 Illinois National Guard Members to Be Federalized Despite Governor's Objection
Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Oct. 5 that roughly 300 Illinois National Guard members are being federalized and appear to be activated against the wishes of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, calling the move a misuse of the Guard and urging communities to welcome the troops while criticizing the administration’s rationale. Gov. Pritzker says the Pentagon informed Illinois it would federalize 300 guardsmen—allegedly issuing an ultimatum—and the action, tied to protecting ICE personnel, comes amid wider federal deployments of agents to U.S. cities that have prompted protests and legal challenges.
Military
Public Safety
Politics
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the Pentagon informed Illinois it will federalize about 300 Illinois National Guard members and that the Pentagon issued an "ultimatum" to call up troops or they would be federalized; the White House and Pentagon did not respond to questions about his claim.
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Oct. 5) said the roughly 300 troops appear to be Illinois National Guardsmen being activated against the governor's wishes, called the move a "misuse of the National Guard," urged support for the service members, and criticized the administration for diverting $800 million from crime‑prevention efforts.
- Earlier reporting indicated the federal government had requested roughly 100 troops to Illinois to protect ICE personnel and facilities after DHS sent a memo to the Defense Department asking for Guard support.
- This action is part of a broader pattern of federal deployments to U.S. cities: reporting cites deployments or planned operations in Portland (and an Oregon DoD memo federalizing about 200 Guard members for 60 days), Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and additional federal agents scheduled to arrive in Memphis.
- On‑the‑ground operations in the Chicago area included armed federal officers in downtown Chicago, Border Patrol boats on the Chicago River, marches on Michigan Avenue, and an incident near the "Bean" where activists say a Latino family was led away; federal tactics in nearby Broadview reportedly included pepper balls and tear gas on Sept. 26 and about 13 arrests near the ICE facility.
- Local reaction has included protests, lawsuits and immediate legal responses (notably in Portland), and local officials opposing deployments: Broadview's mayor said "we don't want them" and "we don't need them," while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called President Trump an "unstable human being," called the deployments "appalling," and urged Congress to restrain presidential authority over domestic military use.
- There are conflicting accounts about authorization and orders: NPR recorded President Trump on Truth Social authorizing "Full Force" and naming a political surrogate, while Pentagon officials told reporters they had not issued a deployment order and learned of the request from media reports.
đź“š Contextual Background
- On 2025-09-30 members of the Oregon National Guard reported for duty to prepare to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. government personnel and to protect federal property in Oregon; the troops were to come from a military police company and an infantry company.
đź“° Sources (8)
Transcript: Sen. Tammy Duckworth on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 5, 2025
New information:
- Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Oct. 5, 2025 said the roughly 300 troops 'are going to be Illinois National Guardsmen' and that the activation appears to be taking place 'against the governor's wishes.'
- Duckworth publicly characterized the federalization as a 'misuse of the National Guard' and called for welcoming the guardspeople while criticizing the administration's rationale.
- Duckworth asserted the administration 'diverted $800 million in crime prevention efforts' away from funding police—an explicit policy criticism offered on-air.
Gov. Pritzker says Trump plans to deploy National Guard in Illinois
New information:
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the Pentagon informed Illinois it would federalize 300 Illinois National Guard members.
- Pritzker provided a direct quote asserting the Pentagon issued an 'ultimatum' to call up troops or they would be federalized.
- The story notes White House and Pentagon did not respond to questions about Pritzker’s claim.
- Contextual update: federal deployments and legal challenges referenced (deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.; 200 National Guard troops federalized in Oregon) and reporting that 13 people were arrested near the Broadview ICE facility.
Chicago-area mayor insists 'we don't need' Guard troops despite repeated anti-ICE clashes
New information:
- Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson—leader of a Chicago suburb of under 8,000 residents—publicly said her community does not want or need National Guard troops.
- Article quotes Thompson directly: "We don't want them here" and "We don't need them," and notes she said Broadview can govern itself.
- ICE issued a formal statement responding to Thompson, urging local enforcement and accusing her of 'distorting reality.'
- Article reiterates that federal agents used pepper balls and tear gas during Broadview clashes on Sept. 26, 2025.
Chicago mayor says 'unstable human being' Trump must be 'checked' on military use in US cities
New information:
- Direct quote from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calling President Trump an 'unstable human being' and saying 'it's right for this moment to check him.'
- Mayor Johnson's public call on Congress to 'do its job' to restrain presidential authority over domestic deployment of military forces.
- Mayor Johnson's explicit framing that deploying armed, militarized troops against U.S. cities is 'appalling' and an 'egregious attempt to undermine the sanctity of our democracy.'
Illinois governor says troops could be deployed to Chicago as immigration agents patrol downtown
New information:
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it appeared the federal government would deploy about 100 troops to Illinois to protect ICE personnel and facilities.
- Pritzker said the Illinois National Guard received word that DHS sent a memo to the Defense Department requesting troops to protect ICE.
- Reporting details enforcement tactics in Chicago this weekend: Border Patrol agents used boats on the Chicago River and marched on Michigan Avenue; an incident near the 'Bean' where a Latino family of four was reportedly led away was described by activists.
Trump shifts crime crackdown strategy with federal agents in Democratic cities
New information:
- On‑the‑ground video showing armed federal officers in downtown Chicago.
- CBS reports the Portland deployment sparked protests and a lawsuit by state and city leaders (visual reporting confirming local reaction).
- Reporters say additional federal agents are scheduled to arrive in Memphis today, giving a near‑term timing for the operation.
3 things to know about Trump's plan to send troops to Portland and Memphis
New information:
- NPR records Trump’s explicit Truth Social language authorizing 'Full Force' and naming Hegseth; it also reports Pentagon officials saying they had not issued a deployment order and learned of the request from media.
- NPR cites OPB reporting on a DoD memo federalizing 200 Oregon Guard members for 60 days, a concrete troop count and duration not detailed in earlier surge summaries.
- NPR documents local officials' immediate legal response and public quotes (Mayor Keith Wilson calling required troops 'zero').