National Guard could be deployed to Illinois amid immigration enforcement push

In late September 2025, the Trump administration moved to request deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, including Chicago, in tandem with its broader immigration enforcement operations.

On September 29, 2025, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had sent a memo to the Defense Department seeking to deploy 100 “military troops” to Illinois. According to Pritzker, the deployment would be aimed at protecting ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) personnel and facilities. He said that the Illinois National Guard had obtained the memo but noted that it was unknown what types of troops would be sent or when they would arrive.

The governor linked this request to increased federal activity under the administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” which involved heightened ICE operations in the Chicago area, including arrests and protests outside a detention facility in suburban Broadview. He also pointed to recent incidents near the Broadview facility, including protests, confrontations with federal agents and allegations of misuse of force.

Pritzker and other state officials raised concerns about the legal basis for deploying troops and stated their readiness to challenge any deployment in court should the evidence warrant legal action.

Separately, in August 2025 federal and Pentagon officials announced that up to 1,700 National Guard troops would be mobilized across 19 states to assist DHS and ICE with immigration‐related tasks. According to the Pentagon, these Guard units would perform support roles such as clerical, transportation and logistical duties rather than front-line enforcement or arrests. Under Title 32 authority, these Guard forces would remain under the command of their respective state governors while coordinating with DHS.

The deployment was described by officials as separate from a federal crime crackdown being carried out in Washington, D.C. The precise allocation of troops to each state and the duration of their assignments had not yet been detailed. Illinois was among the states identified as a candidate for such support, aligning the federal request in Illinois with that broader multi-state operation.

If the requested troops were deployed, they could potentially be stationed in or near Chicago, particularly in the context of supporting ICE operations underway in the metropolitan area. The motive, as stated in the DHS request, would be to protect ICE staff and facilities.

Sources:

• New York Times

• Chicago Sun-Times

• FOX 5 DC