Homeland Security Wants 100 Troops To Help Protect ICE Agents In Illinois, Pritzker Says

Governor JB Pritzker announced Monday that the Illinois National Guard may be deployed to assist the Department of Homeland Security in protecting ICE personnel and facilities. The request for 100 troops stems from a memo by Homeland Security Secretary Andrew Whitaker, which alleges that ICE agents face coordinated threats from groups linked to domestic terrorism. Pritzker indicated that state officials, including Attorney General Kwame Raoul, are prepared to pursue legal action if military troops are sent to Illinois, asserting that a memo alone does not trigger a lawsuit. Tensions in Chicago escalated over the weekend, with armed Border Patrol agents arresting individuals during protests against ICE. Activists claim that federal agents instigated violence, while federal officials have branded protesters as violent rioters.

At least five individuals face federal charges in connection with the protests. The deployment request follows significant unrest at an ICE processing facility in Broadview, where federal agents used tear gas and flash-bang grenades against protesters. Pritzker characterized the situation as an attempt to create chaos to justify military deployment.