After arrival, Texas Guard now operating in Illinois to protect ICE; DHS rebuts Pritzker
A contingent of Texas National Guard troops — Gov. Greg Abbott authorized up to 400 and the Pentagon said 200 were initially mobilized — arrived and began operating in the Chicago area Tuesday night to protect federal property and ICE officers after the administration federalized roughly 300 Illinois guardsmen, a move Illinois and the city of Chicago have sued to block. DHS rebutted Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s characterization of the deployment as an “invasion,” defended agents’ conduct and denied profiling allegations while the White House escalated public attacks on Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Politics
Public Safety
Military
Immigration/Enforcement
Immigration
National Security
Legal
📌 Key Facts
- The Trump administration ordered the federalization of roughly 300 Illinois National Guard members despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker's objection and authorized roughly 400 Texas National Guard troops for deployments tied to Chicago; a Pentagon memo says the units are intended to protect federal property and federal immigration officers.
- The Pentagon confirmed 200 Texas National Guard troops arrived in the Chicago area and were mobilized for an initial 60‑day period; officials (including Tom Homan) said the contingent began active work Tuesday night.
- Illinois and the City of Chicago filed a federal lawsuit on Oct. 6, 2025 seeking to block the federalization and deployment, warning of constitutional stakes and likening the action to an 'occupation'; the filing follows a recent U.S. district judge’s temporary restraining order that blocked Guard deployments to Portland.
- DHS has publicly defended the deployments and rebutted Gov. Pritzker’s accusations — saying agents have been 'rammed' and 'boxed in' and acknowledging that agents shot a woman on Saturday — while also denying profiling and highlighting arrest totals; DHS and allied voices have linked anti‑ICE rhetoric to recent 'bloodshed.'
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order creating 'ICE‑free zones' that bar federal immigration agents from using city‑owned property (parking lots, garages and other sites) as staging or processing locations, directed quick posting of notices, and coordinated the action with Gov. Pritzker; some federal agents say such sanctuary rules force operations into public venues and increase exposure.
- The dispute has produced escalated, personal political rhetoric from the White House and President Trump — including a White House spokeswoman mocking Pritzker, a Truth Social post calling for Pritzker and Mayor Johnson to be jailed, and a White House video labeling the mayor and governor 'grossly incompetent' — while Pritzker called the administration's ultimatum 'absolutely outrageous and un‑American,' called it 'Trump’s Invasion,' and accused Trump of cognitive decline.
📚 Contextual Background
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the federal agency responsible for apprehending and detaining people suspected of being undocumented immigrants in the United States.
📰 Sources (12)
Homan confirms Texas National Guard 'on the ground' in Illinois, warns anti-ICE rhetoric fueling 'bloodshed'
New information:
- Homan specifies the Guard contingent began active work Tuesday night.
- DHS publicly counters Pritzker’s accusations, emphasizing arrests totals and denying profiling.
- Homan links anti‑ICE rhetoric to recent "bloodshed," escalating the political stakes around the deployment.
Trump calls Chicago mayor and Illinois governor 'grossly incompetent' in new White House video
New information:
- The White House posted a new video on social media Wednesday attacking Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
- In the video, President Trump calls Johnson 'grossly incompetent,' describes Chicago as 'a mess,' and says the city 'needs help' and that the administration is 'stopping it, one by one.'
- The video incorporates an audio clip of Pastor Corey Brooks urging National Guard support due to violent crime in Chicago.
- Trump reiterated on Truth Social the same day that Johnson and Pritzker should be jailed for 'failing to protect' ICE officers; Pritzker responded on X accusing Trump of authoritarianism and vowing not to 'back down.'
Pritzker hurls 'dementia' claim at Trump amid National Guard feud despite defending Biden's mental fitness
New information:
- Direct quote from Gov. J.B. Pritzker: 'This is a man who’s suffering dementia.'
- Pentagon confirmation that Texas National Guard troops arrived in Illinois — 200 guardsmen mobilized for an initial 60‑day period.
- Contextual detail that Pritzker previously defended Joe Biden's mental fitness and publicly praised him before Biden withdrew from the 2024 race.
Trump baselessly calls for Pritzker, Chicago mayor to be jailed
New information:
- Direct Truth Social quote from President Trump calling explicitly for Pritzker and Mayor Johnson to be jailed.
- Reiteration that neither Pritzker nor Johnson has been accused of committing a crime.
- Contextual linkage to the Illinois/Chicago lawsuit seeking to block the federalized National Guard deployment and mention that Texas guard members arrived in the Chicago area Tuesday.
Trump says Chicago mayor, Illinois governor 'should be in jail for failing to protect' ICE officers
New information:
- President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that 'Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!'
- Fox News frames the remark alongside the arrival of federal National Guard troops in Illinois, underscoring an escalation in rhetoric from the White House toward local leaders resisting federal ICE deployments.
- The story is labeled 'developing' and includes attribution to Fox News reporting (senior correspondent Mike Tobin; reporter Greg Norman).
Federal agent says Chicago’s ‘ICE-free zones’ endanger operations, embolden protesters
New information:
- A federal special agent who works deportations in New England told Fox News Digital sanctuary policies that bar ICE from staging on municipal property often force agents to prepare in public venues (e.g., supermarkets, office parks), exposing operations.
- The executive order explicitly prohibits use of city parking lots and garages for civil immigration enforcement staging areas, processing locations or operations bases and enables private businesses to refuse ICE use of their property, per Mayor Johnson.
- The White House issued an explicit, quoted condemnation calling the order 'a disgusting betrayal of every law‑abiding citizen.'
Chicago mayor creates 'ICE-free zones' to block federal agents from city property
New information:
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order establishing 'ICE‑free zones' that prohibit federal immigration agents from using city-owned property for enforcement operations.
- The mayor directed city agencies to identify spaces targeted during past ICE raids and to post notices within five days that such city property will not be used as staging, processing, or operations locations for immigration enforcement.
- The executive order and lawsuit were explicitly coordinated with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who joined litigation attempting to block National Guard deployments to Illinois.
Illinois and Chicago sue the Trump administration over National Guard deployment
New information:
- The complaint text and filing were reported Oct. 6, 2025 (filed Monday), with a direct quote from Illinois AG Kwame Raoul emphasizing the constitutional stakes.
- NPR viewed a Pentagon memo describing the intended use: to protect federal property and federal immigration officers.
- Specific counts of forces: at least 300 Illinois Guard members were federalized and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott approved calling up 400 Texas Guard troops, some slated for Illinois.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker publicly labeled the move 'Trump’s Invasion' on social media, a notable political framing from the state executive.
Chicago and Illinois sue to block Trump’s Guard deployment plan after Portland ruling
New information:
- Illinois and the City of Chicago filed a federal lawsuit on Oct. 6, 2025 seeking to block the federalization and deployment of roughly 300 Illinois National Guard troops (and referencing ~400 from Texas) to Chicago.
- The article quotes the lawsuit language warning against an 'occupation' and quotes Gov. J.B. Pritzker calling the move 'Trump’s invasion.'
- White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed the president authorized using Illinois National Guard members; DHS acknowledged agents shot a woman Saturday and said agents had been 'rammed' and 'boxed in'—a statement attributed to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
- The piece notes recent related legal action: U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order blocking National Guard deployments to Portland.
Illinois Sues to Block Trump’s National Guard Deployment
New information:
- WSJ reports Illinois officials filed the lawsuit on Monday seeking to block the federalization/deployment.
- Specifies the administration ordered federalization of roughly 300 Illinois National Guardsmen despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker's objection.
- Reports the administration also ordered federalization of about 400 Texas National Guard soldiers for deployment to Chicago.
White House mocks 'slob' Pritzker after he rejects Trump's National Guard plan
New information:
- White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson publicly mocked Gov. J.B. Pritzker, calling him 'this slob' for rejecting the deployment (quote to Fox News Digital).
- Direct on‑the‑record quote from Gov. Pritzker saying the administration's ultimatum was 'absolutely outrageous and un‑American' and labeling the move 'Trump’s Invasion.'
- Article reiterates that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott authorized sending 400 Texas National Guard members to Illinois and Oregon to 'ensure safety for federal officials.'