* Gov. JB Pritzker at a press conference today…
Moments ago, the Illinois National Guard received word that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to the Department of War seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois claiming a need for the protection of ICE personnel and facilities. What I have been warning of is now being realized.
The full speech is here.
The guard has confirmed a request, but says no orders have yet been issued.
…Adding… I asked the governor’s spokesperson if the “military troops” were Illinois National Guard, another state’s guard or the US Military…
We don’t know. DHS requested 100 military personnel from DOW. DOW and/or POTUS need to respond to that request.
Stay tuned.
* ICE, Pritzker said, “is running around the loop, harassing people for not being white.”
After reciting a litany of “authoritarian” events during the past days, Pritzker said…
This is not about fighting crime or about public safety. This is about sowing fear and intimidation and division among Americans. It is about creating a pretext to send armed military troops into our communities. This is about consolidating power in Donald Trump’s hands. What he plans to do with that power, now or during the 2026 elections, should worry all of us.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
The mobilization of the military isn’t just an ineffective strategy to address crime, it is illegal. […]
The Posse Comitatus Act, as stated before, limits the federal government’s ability to use the military for domestic law enforcement. A judge in California recognized that fact earlier this month, and the militia clauses of the United States Constitution give Congress sole authority to decide what factual circumstances allow the presidents to federalize the National Guard. They don’t exist here. The President has failed to establish that any other legal prerequisites exist for his efforts to nationalize to federalize the guard, which is why litigation challenging these efforts is now pending in multiple courts, and if the evidence follows, the pattern follows what we’ve seen in Oregon, he should expect a legal challenge here as well. […]
What the President is hoping to do is foment chaos by inciting out of control protests. So I urge Illinoisans don’t take the bait. There is no emergency in Chicago. Don’t help them create one. Exercise your first amendment rights, but do so peacefully, without violence or destruction of property. If you see what you believe to be civil rights being violated. Use your phone or camera to document it.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:26 pm:
I believe we call this “pulling a King George.”
- ArchPundit - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:30 pm:
While a horrible idea (posse comitatus and all) the soldiers are likely more disciplined than the gang of ne’er do wells in the worst policing agency in the federal government. It could decrease the level of conflict.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:31 pm:
Maybe Trump will quarter all the troops in private residences. He might as well every clause of the Bill of Rights
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:38 pm:
“(H)e should expect a legal challenge here.” I expected a legal challenge the minute the guard received the word. It’s not like this is a surprise.
- NIU Grad - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:39 pm:
“ICE, Pritzker said, “is running around the loop, harassing people for not being white.””
We can’t even call this hyperbole. It’s literally the definition of a “Kavanaugh Stop.”
- I-55 Fanatic - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:42 pm:
Someone is going to get seriously hurt, or worse. You can talk posse comitatus all you want, but people won’t really understand what that means until their fyp shows them videos of people getting beaten and shot in the street. Stay safe out there.
- Crispy - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:43 pm:
Please, more information about lawsuits, A.G. Raoul. If ever there was a time to be proactive rather than reactive, that time is now.
Illinoisans need protection from the feds, not the other way around.
- Steve - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:46 pm:
-is running around the loop, harassing people for not being white-
I hope CPD and ICE are on the look out for Episcopalian girls from Kennilworth causing problems downtown from carjacking to immigration issues.
- illinifan - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:47 pm:
I am crying for our country. I wonder what the line is that needs to be crossed for Congress to step up and pull this into check.
- Crispy - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:52 pm:
@Steve, you mean, as opposed to people just peacefully doing their jobs while brown? Give me a break.
- Steve - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 3:54 pm:
-Give me a break.-
You got to start thinking like a Netflix series.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:00 pm:
President Grant used the US military to defend non-whites, we got “Posse Comitatus” … President Trump uses the US military to suppress non-whites, we get “Posse What?”
- JB13 - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:04 pm:
Any word on if the troops are coming to disrupt our elections?
That is still their *actual* mission, right?
- ArchPundit - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:04 pm:
==We can’t even call this hyperbole. It’s literally the definition of a “Kavanaugh Stop.”
The roaming commander or whatever title they gave the cosplaying ICE commander said as much to the Sun Times. They are bragging about it. And when video recorded by another guy who was a pretty standard white guy, the commander started harassing him about his nationality so Steve got his wish.
This is America. Walking down the street shouldn’t require having papers handy.
- maybe - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:06 pm:
If people wouldn’t attaack federal agents or attempt to impede them, Trump would have no need to play this game.
- ChicagoVinny - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:14 pm:
So what I’m hearing is harassing people on Michigan Ave and shooting up reporters’ trucks is too much for DHS to handle without crying for military assistance?
What a bunch of wimps.
- Banish Misfortune - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:17 pm:
I’m still trying to figure out what the border patrol boats on the river were for. I mean, not immigrants in yachts, I’m thinking, so for what? I can’t think of even a pretend reason.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:18 pm:
===If people wouldn’t attaack federal agents or attempt to impede them, Trump would have no need to play this game.===
Trump’s engaging in racist pandering. Arresting employers (feds know who they are) would be more cost effective, but it would be perp walks for mostly citizens, mostly whites, not non-whites.
- G'Kar - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:21 pm:
Please, Governor, it is the Department of Defense, not War. Don’t acknowledge yet another heavy handed attempt by Hegseth & Trump to change things that they have no authority to change.
- Someguy - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:22 pm:
— I’m still trying to figure out what the border patrol boats—
There were reports of a brown person spotted near the play pen.
- illinifan - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:23 pm:
To maybe, Trump will play this game regardless of how protesters behave. If the protesters handed the agents flowers, he would say bring in the troops because it is triggering their allergies. He wants this “show”.
- here we go again - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:33 pm:
So somehow it’s the President’s fault that violent left-wingers are attacking federal agents trying to enforce federal law? The Dem Party is becoming a bigger disaster every day.
- fs - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:34 pm:
That’s an interesting point, Anyone Remember. Should this precedent of blatant disregard for laws restricting use of military use stick and be established as precedent for future administrations, I don’t think the red states would like too much a future president utilizing the military as extra muscle to “assist and provide protection” for department of justice enforcement of civil rights laws.
This is just a sick and dangerous exercise in many, many ways.
- maybe - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:34 pm:
=Trump will play this game regardless of how protesters behave.=
I agree that Trump would find another way to grandstand. However don’t use him as an excuse for peoples bad behavior.
- Juice - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:40 pm:
Here we go again, where exactly did this attack occur?
Being called names and people being mean to you is not an attack.
The federal government and those who support what they are currently doing are such massive snowflakes.
- West Side the Best Side - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:40 pm:
Fighting crime? Why are you on the Mag Mile instead of doing a ride along on the midnights in Englewood or Austin? Cowards just like President Bone Spurs.
- Riversidian - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 4:53 pm:
=== So somehow it’s the President’s fault that violent left-wingers are attacking federal agents trying to enforce federal law? The Dem Party is becoming a bigger disaster every day. ===
THis can’t possibly be a good-faith argument.
- Da Burden - Monday, Sep 29, 25 @ 5:01 pm:
This president has turned the country into a banana republic and a sh*th0le, as he once embarrassingly called other nations. He’s a disgrace.