(The Center Square) – One-hundred military troops are being requested for Illinois by the Trump administration, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who says the Trump administration is authoritarian. But the Feds say the deployment is necessary to quell “coordinated attacks by radical extremists” on immigration agents who are doing their jobs.
Pritzker said he got word about the deployment to Chicago, but didn’t have specifics.
“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,” Pritzker said during a news conference in Chicago Monday afternoon.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Trump is wanting to sow chaos and provoke Chicagoans.
“Don’t take the bait. There is no emergency in Chicago,” Raoul said. “Don’t help him create one.”
He said they’re preparing litigation for if troops arrive.
Pritzker said federal officers are asking people to see their papers and compared it to authoritarianism. He said federal agents “wreaked havoc” in Broadview where there were chaotic protests over the weekend.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a video statement as federal agents were met with protesters.
“More than 200 violent rioters were at a Chicago ICE facility chanting, ‘arrest ICE! Shoot ICE!’ At least one had a gun,” Bondi said.
The Department of Justice announced Monday they charged five individuals with assault and resisting federal officers engaged in immigration enforcement, two of which had handguns.
Bondi said the violent riots they saw in Broadview are similar to riots in LA and Portland, where the military has been deployed.
“These are not peaceful protests,” she said. “These are coordinated attacks by radical extremists and they end now. Anyone who threatens or assaults our federal officers will be arrested and charged federally. Not in some liberal state court.”
