Pentagon confirms 500 Guard federalized for Chicago; appeals court blocks street deployment
The Pentagon confirmed roughly 500 National Guard troops have been federalized for the Chicago area—about 300 Illinois guardsmen and 200 Texas troops mobilized for an initial roughly 60‑day period to protect federal property and personnel amid protests, with some Texas troops already active. Illinois and the City of Chicago sued to block the deployments, and while federal control of the forces continues, a Seventh Circuit administrative order has temporarily blocked their street deployment pending further legal proceedings.
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📌 Key Facts
- U.S. Northern Command and Pentagon officials confirmed roughly 500 National Guard troops have been federalized for the Chicago area — about 300 Illinois Guard members and about 200 Texas Guard members — with the Texas contingent mobilized for an initial 60-day period.
- USNORTHCOM and Pentagon statements say some Texas troops have begun protecting federal personnel and property in the Chicago area; their assigned roles include establishing security perimeters, crowd-control and de‑escalation, and temporarily detaining people to prevent interference with federal operations (troops are not being used to arrest protesters).
- Illinois and the City of Chicago filed a federal lawsuit on Oct. 6 seeking to block the federalization and deployment, calling the move unlawful and warning against an 'occupation'; Gov. J.B. Pritzker publicly labeled it 'Trump’s Invasion.' The federal government filed an extensive response arguing broad presidential authority and urging judicial deference.
- A federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois (Judge April M. Perry) set hearings on the bid to block the deployment; the Seventh Circuit subsequently issued an administrative stay that allows continued federal control of the mobilized troops but temporarily blocks their street deployment in the Chicago area pending further proceedings.
- Troops are staged at locations including the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, where fencing, privacy screens and temporary living trailers have been installed to support the mobilization.
- The deployment is linked by officials to protecting ICE/federal immigration officers and facilities amid protests; a Pentagon memo and DHS statements describe the mission as safeguarding federal property and personnel.
- The move has provoked heated political reactions: President Trump and White House officials publicly attacked Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson (including Truth Social posts calling for them to be jailed and White House comments mocking Pritzker), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott authorized and supported sending Guard troops to Illinois, and other governors (including Oklahoma’s Kevin Stitt) criticized the cross‑state use of another state’s Guard on federalism grounds.
- Observers and military experts have raised concerns about using the National Guard for expanded domestic missions beyond traditional roles—citing potential impacts on recruitment, public trust and precedent—while parallel legal challenges (including a temporary restraining order in Portland) underscore broader judicial scrutiny of similar federalizations.
📚 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 (21)
Appeals court temporarily blocks deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago
New information:
- Seventh Circuit issued an administrative stay allowing continued federal control of the troops.
- Street deployment in the Chicago area remains blocked pending further proceedings.
‘Pritzker is a joke’: Texas Gov. Abbott mocks sanctuary governor for opposing National Guard troops
New information:
- Gov. Greg Abbott, in an on‑record interview, called Gov. J.B. Pritzker a “joke” and accused him of violating his oath by trying to interfere with federal enforcement operations.
- Pritzker has threatened to withdraw from the National Governors Association if it does not condemn the deployment.
- Abbott characterized Texas Guard’s mission in Illinois as a backup role supporting federal officials amid anti‑immigration protests.
- Reiterates Pentagon’s confirmation that 200 Texas National Guard members were mobilized for an initial 60‑day period and arrived in Illinois Tuesday.
Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago
New information:
- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), chair of the National Governors Association, publicly criticized sending Texas National Guard troops to Illinois over that governor’s objections, citing federalism and 'states’ rights.'
- Stitt said President Trump should have first federalized Illinois troops rather than rely on another state’s Guard crossing state lines.
- Stitt framed the move as setting a precedent a future Democratic president could use, despite reiterating support for protecting ICE and 'law and order.'
- Stitt said he has not yet spoken with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott about the deployment but expects to discuss it soon.
Judge ruling on National Guard lawsuit filed by Illinois, Chicago today
New information:
- A federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois will rule today on Illinois and Chicago’s lawsuit to block the federalized Guard deployment.
- The court previously declined to grant an emergency TRO on filing day and set a briefing deadline.
- The federal government filed a 59-page response just before the Wednesday 11:59 p.m. CT deadline, arguing broad presidential authority and urging judicial deference.
- Illinois AG Kwame Raoul’s filing labels the deployment “patently unlawful,” while DHS/administration cite the need to protect federal agents and ICE facilities from protests.
- Hearing time set for 11 a.m. CT.
Federal judge to rule on whether Trump administration can deploy National Guard in Chicago
New information:
- Judge’s ruling on the administration’s deployment authority is expected Thursday.
- States that 500 Guard were activated overnight Thursday to guard a detention center under protest pressure.
Here is the latest.
New information:
- USNORTHCOM said late Wednesday that some Texas National Guard troops have begun 'actively protecting federal personnel and property' (locations not specified).
- U.S. District Judge April M. Perry will hear arguments at noon ET on whether Texas troops can be used in Illinois; she earlier declined to block their arrival.
- Updated headcount reiterated: roughly 300 Illinois Guard and 200 Texas Guard activated; a ~1,000-person Chicago protest remained largely peaceful.
- President Trump escalated rhetoric, saying Chicago's mayor and Illinois' governor should be jailed.
Trump's use of National Guard strays from role as 'minutemen,' military experts say
New information:
- Broader context that Guard deployments are being used for a range of functions beyond security perimeters, including administrative support to ICE (in Missouri) and civic 'beautification' and patrols in Washington, D.C.
- Adds expert assessment (Ret. Maj. Gen. Enyart) warning of recruitment/public-trust impacts from such missions.
Federal court to weigh Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago area
New information:
- U.S. District Judge April Perry will hear arguments Thursday on Illinois and Chicago’s bid to block the Guard deployment.
- A U.S. Northern Command spokesperson says an element of the 200 Texas Guard troops began protecting federal property in the Chicago area on Wednesday.
- City and state court filing argues Broadview ICE protests never impeded enforcement and calls the deployment a pretext.
- Article notes Trump said the Chicago mayor and Illinois governor should be jailed for failing to protect federal agents.
- Parallel update: the 9th Circuit is set to hear arguments Thursday on Trump’s federalization of 200 Oregon Guard troops; a district court TRO currently bars Portland deployment.
500 National Guard troops deployed in Chicago area amid legal battle
New information:
- Northern Command confirms approximately 500 Guard troops employed: about 200 from Texas and 300 from Illinois.
- Deployment is slated to last at least 60 days.
- Troops’ roles include establishing security perimeters, crowd control and de-escalation; they may temporarily detain to prevent interference/assaults but will not arrest protesters.
- Troops are staged at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, where fencing/privacy screens and temporary living trailers have been installed.
- A federal judge set a Thursday hearing on Illinois/Chicago’s TRO; an immediate TRO was declined to allow federal briefing, and leaders appear to be awaiting the ruling before city deployments.
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.
+ 1 more sources