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White House confirms National Guard deployment
The White House has confirmed President Trump has authorized sending 300 guard members to Illinois--despite the governor's objections.
CHICAGO - President Donald Trump moved to deploy the National Guard in another city Saturday by authorizing 300 troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago, where the government said Border Patrol agents shot and injured a woman while firing at someone who tried to run them over.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed that the president authorized using the Illinois National Guard members, citing what she called "ongoing violent riots and lawlessness" that local leaders have not quelled.
"President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities," Jackson said.
Gov. JB Pritzker said the Trump administration intends to federalize 300 Illinois National Guard troops sometime on Saturday after the governor refused to do so himself.
What we know:
"Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities." Abigail Jackson, White House representative, said.
Pritzker said the Department of War gave him an ultimatum: "call up your troops, or we will."
He said in a series of posts on X that he would not call up the National Guard to "further Trump’s act of aggression against our people."
"It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will," he wrote.
Co-director of Loyola's National Security Program, Joe Ferguson says while Pritzker cannot stop Trump from calling the Illinois National Guard. There is a legal process that must be followed.
"The governor can say what he's going to say," Ferguson said. "It wouldn't be surprising to see the attorney general file a lawsuit if, in fact, this order came across. But ultimately, the person that has to make the decision as to whether the order and the circumstances of the order, and the request being made, is within the law is the adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. So what we have is heated political rhetoric. Ambiguity about what the intentions are here. A clear indication that Washington may be looking to claim provocation. It's what we all need to do as citizens. And I think what our executives need to do is step back, step out of the politics, focus on the law, turn the screws of the law, utilize the courts, but not provide, not take the bait."
What they're saying:
"These are Illinoisans who will be ripped away from their families to serve in Trump's political stunt. We have warned that this has been their plan all along, and now it's here…Our city is not a sandbox for Donald Trump to play dictator. It’s intentional cruelty that will devastate families and scar our communities.
Let me be clear: the only emergency in Chicago is the chaos that Donald Trump and his administration are deliberately fueling in our streets. Journalists targeted and shot at, peaceful residents dragged from their homes, women and children zip-tied in the streets, families torn apart and stuffed into U-Hauls. This is unacceptable, reprehensible, and not what we stand for in Illinois." – Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton
"Terrorizing families with midnight raids and military troops in our streets is writing a shameful chapter in our nation’s history. This President is not intent on fighting crime. He is intent on spreading fear." – Sen. Dick Durbin
Big picture view:
On Saturday, five people were arrested in connection with protests in Broadview.
Five people were charged in a large protest Friday outside the Broadview ICE facility.
The protest marked the fifth consecutive Friday of demonstrations at the suburban Chicago processing center. Early Friday, the scene outside the facility was quiet, with a single police squad car present and new security measures in place, including fencing and concrete barriers at Lexington and Beech streets.
Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino also made an appearance on the roof of the ICE facility surrounded by armed personnel. An armored truck was also present at the scene.
Protest organizers said the Broadview center is not intended to hold detainees for more than 12 hours at a time, but claim individuals are being deprived of basic necessities such as beds, blankets and access to hygiene facilities.
Activists also allege ICE has blocked elected officials from inspecting the facility, despite requirements they say are set by law.
ICE agents have used pepper balls, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of protesters to allow vehicles to enter and exit the facility. Five people were charged in Saturday's demonstrations, including a couple who were reportedly carrying guns.
The DHS announced Thursday that since launching Operation Midway Blitz on Sept. 8, over 900 people have been arrested in the Chicago area.
RELATED: Broadview ICE protest: 5 charged during large demonstration
Associated Press contributed to this story.