Deployment of Texas Guards in Illinois Amid Protests

President Trump is sending 400 Texas State Guard troops to Illinois and several other states as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensify, according to Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement on Sunday night.

Illinois Democrats have taken issue with Trump’s characterization of the situation as an “invasion,” particularly after he previously deployed 300 California State Guard members to Portland. The protests there have been ongoing for more than 100 days, sparked by the operations at an immigration detention center that’s been active in Chicago since September.

Pritzker expressed that he opposes this federal action, stating that there has been no effort by federal officials to coordinate with state leaders regarding these developments.

“We need to start calling this what it is: Trump’s invasion,” Pritzker remarked in a post on X, urging Americans to help put an end to what he describes as “insanity.”

He added, “This began with federal agents, including those from the Illinois State Guard, being deployed against our will, rather than sending troops from their home state. Governor Abbott needs to withdraw his support for this decision.”

Pritzker accused Trump of using security personnel as “political props” and criticized him for deploying active-duty troops to “sovereign nations” without proper authorization.

The White House has not immediately addressed requests for comment.

A series of anti-ICE protests have escalated in Chicago since US immigration authorities initiated Operation Midway Blitz last month.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and other local Democratic leaders have expressed their support for the protests. However, there have been increasing reports of violence, with protesters allegedly using vehicles to confront ICE agents in the city.

On Saturday, US Border Patrol agents responded to a situation on Chicago’s South Side, resulting in injuries to a woman who was armed after a mob attempted to attack a federal officer.

The agents were stationed roughly 15 miles from the ICE Processing Center located in Broadview, which has seen considerable unrest since the situation escalated. Over a dozen protesters have been arrested near the facility since Friday.

DHS Secretary Christie Noem, who arrived in Illinois on Friday, referred to Chicago as a “war zone” during her appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

Noem also claimed that the city is obstructing federal law enforcement, including Border Patrol and ICE officers, from accessing public facilities, citing her own experience of being denied entry to a government building for restroom use.