In late September 2025, the Trump administration moved to request deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, including Chicago, in tandem with its broader immigration enforcement operations.

On September 29, 2025, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had sent a memo to the Defense Department seeking to deploy 100 “military troops” to Illinois. According to Pritzker, the deployment would be aimed at protecting ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) personnel and facilities. He said that the Illinois National Guard had obtained the memo but noted that it was unknown what types of troops would be sent or when they would arrive.

The governor linked this request to increased federal activity under the administration’s “Operation Mi

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