Texas has sent 200 National Guard troops to Illinois in a mission labeled “Federal Protection,” citing the need to protect federal personnel and property amid escalating protests. The Pentagon confirmed the deployment is for an initial 60‑day period under federal orders.
Troops landed at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, just south of Chicago, where they are staging before moving into the city. Illinois officials pushed back, saying they were not consulted about the deployment and challenging its legality.
Governor Greg Abbott’s office says he authorized 400 guard members to assist in enforcing federal law across states including Illinois and Oregon. Chicago officials and the state have filed suit to block the mobilization, arguing the move violates state sovereignty and constitutional limits on military intervention.
Mayor Brandon Johnson decried the deployment as “illegal, unconstitutional, dangerous and wrong.” He also issued an executive order to bar federal agents from using city property for enforcement operations.
Supporters argue the troops aim only to protect federal facilities—especially ICE and DHS sites—amid “Operation Midway Blitz,” the administration’s intensified immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago.
