Troops from Illinois and Texas Gear Up Amid Heightened Deportations
The national government is preparing to send 300 National Guard troops from Illinois to the Chicago region for a period of at least 60 days. The news came via an internal memo to Illinois National Guard's leadership. A further announcement revealed that the troops might soon be joined by a substantial number of their counterparts from Texas.
Additional Troops from Texas
The Governor of Illinois revealed that the President is ordering the mobilization of 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployment within the country, including Illinois. It appears that the federal government made no effort to discuss or coordinate this action with the Governor directly. This move, he claims, is a military invasion by the President, starting with federal agents and now involving National Guard troops from one state being deployed to another state against their wishes.
Escalating Immigration Enforcement
The recent developments have followed a weekend filled with swift actions by the national government, which has been escalating its immigration enforcement activities in Illinois and other areas. The President has also attempted to send National Guard troops from California to areas with a temporary restraining order against such actions. However, these efforts have been continuously blocked by a federal judge who issued a ruling to prevent the deployment of California National Guard troops.
Deployment of Illinois National Guard
According to the memo from the Defense Secretary to the Illinois National Guard, up to 300 of its members will be summoned into federal service without delay for a two-month period. They will be tasked with the protection of federal personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Protective Service, and others who are carrying out federal functions, including the enforcement of Federal law. They will also be responsible for protecting federal property in locations where violent demonstrations against these functions are likely based on current assessments and planned operations.
Opposition and Legal Implications
The move to federalize Illinois National Guard troops has been met with criticism, with opponents arguing that it's an abuse of power by the President meant to incite fear and division. The Governor of Illinois has maintained that he will not deploy the state's National Guard and that a federal deployment against his wishes is illegal. He has also promised to take legal action to prevent it, citing the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which forbids the military from conducting law enforcement activities on U.S. soil.
The Governor has reportedly not been in touch with national administration officials regarding the deployment in Illinois. His spokesperson confirmed that the Governor didn't receive any calls from federal officials. The Illinois National Guard communicated to the Department of War that the situation in Illinois does not require the use of the military. As a result, the Governor opposes any deployment of the National Guard.
Need for Troops
The national government believes the troops are required to ensure the safety of federal agents and facilities that have been part of the recent immigration enforcement surge. The exact locations for these deployments haven't been disclosed yet, but it has been confirmed that the National Guard Bureau, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Commander of the U.S. Northern Command will collaboratively plan the mobilization details with the Illinois National Guard.
It's important to note that the National Guard troops being mobilized will be working without pay until the ongoing federal government shutdown is resolved.
Legal Actions and Opposition
The Attorney General of Illinois has not made specific plans to file new lawsuits against the national administration following the deployment news. However, the Attorney General's office has expressed a strong commitment to upholding the Constitution and defending the rule of law, stating that they will not hesitate to take legal action in the event of any unlawful deployment in Illinois.
The deployment plans have also sparked opposition from a coalition of business and civic groups. They fear that the deployment might disrupt the progress being made to make Chicago safer by creating fear and chaos. The groups described the plans as a threat to the bottom line of businesses and the city's reputation.