Hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers arrived this week at an Army Reserve training center southwest of Chicago under orders from the Trump administration. This move has sparked legal challenges and political backlash from Illinois officials.
The troops landed Monday at the training center in Elwood, about 50 miles from downtown Chicago, where they set up temporary quarters with trailers and additional fencing around the base. Some soldiers were seen carrying rifles and riot shields as convoys of military vehicles entered the site.
On Tuesday, reporters from the Chicago Tribune confirmed the presence of soldiers in Elwood, a far southwest suburb home to a U.S. Army Reserve training center. Troops dressed in camouflage and bearing the distinctive “T” insignia of the Texas National Guard were seen carrying long guns and entering mobile sleeping units on federal property.
Federal officials said the deployment is intended to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies conducting immigration enforcement in the Chicago area. The administration described the move as necessary to “safeguard” federal personnel and facilities.
The arrival caught state and local leaders off guard. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, condemned the deployment as unlawful and unconstitutional. They filed lawsuits this week seeking an injunction to block the operation, arguing that the federal government cannot deploy one state’s National Guard into another without that state’s consent.
“This was done without consultation, coordination, or consent,” Pritzker said Tuesday. “It represents an unacceptable overreach of federal power.”
The Trump administration defended the action, citing ongoing immigration enforcement efforts in the region. Federal agents, including ICE and Border Patrol units, have stepped up operations in recent weeks, particularly in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. More than 1,000 immigrants have reportedly been detained over the past month.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized Chicago’s handling of crime and immigration, saying the city has become “a sanctuary for lawlessness.” Administration officials said they are prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act if courts block the deployment, though no formal steps have been taken.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott voiced support for sending troops, calling it a necessary measure to uphold federal law. “Texas will always stand with our federal partners to keep America safe,” Abbott said.
Mayor Johnson responded by issuing an executive order restricting ICE access to city property and urging residents to remain calm. “We will use every legal tool available to protect our residents and our sovereignty,” Johnson said.
The first hearing in the state and city’s joint lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday in federal court. Legal experts say the case could set a significant precedent for the limits of presidential authority over state National Guard units and domestic law enforcement.
Under federal law, the National Guard’s powers on U.S. soil are limited primarily to protecting federal property. Guard troops do not have the authority to make arrests or engage in direct law enforcement unless the Insurrection Act is invoked.
Community groups say the deployment has heightened anxiety among immigrants in the Chicago area. Small protests have been reported near immigration detention centers and federal buildings in recent days.
“This is creating fear in our neighborhoods,” said Maria Lopez, an organizer in the Little Village neighborhood. “People are afraid of what comes next.”
The deployment marks one of the few times in modern history that National Guard forces from one state have been sent into another without approval from local officials. The outcome of the pending court case — and whether the administration follows through on threats to expand the operation — could carry major political and constitutional consequences.
The Texas National Guard remains stationed at the Elwood base as Illinois officials prepare to challenge the move in court later this week.
