Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the Trump administration gave him an “ultimatum” of calling up his troops or having National Guard members nationalized.
Up to 300 members of the Illinois National Guard will be federalized, Mr. Pritzker said Saturday, to combat crime and protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents
“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” Mr. Pritzker said in a statement. “It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.”
“They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance — not a serious effort to protect public safety,” he said. “For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control.”
The directive mirrors the moves made in Los Angeles over the summer and in D.C. The president has repeatedly threatened to send troops to other cities as well, including Chicago.
“I want to be clear: there is no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois. State, county, and local law enforcement have been working together and coordinating to ensure public safety around the Broadview ICE facility, and to protect people’s ability to peacefully exercise their constitutional rights,” he said. “I will not call up our National Guard to further Trump’s acts of aggression against our people.”
He’s threatened Chicago in particular numerous times for weeks. He has sent troops to Memphis, at the request of the Republican governor, and to Portland.
Mr. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have long opposed the idea of using trips in his state.
The president hinted at the move during a speech at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.
“We’re going into Chicago very soon,” he said. “That’s a big city with an incompetent governor, stupid governor.”
Portland and Oregon officials have sued to stop the deployment. U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut heard arguments Friday, and a ruling is expected sometime over the weekend.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.