Increased ICE presence in Chicago for heightened immigration enforcement, as asserted by Noem
In a move that has sparked controversy, the Trump administration has announced plans to send National Guard troops and increase Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement resources to Chicago. This decision, which includes plans to deploy federalized National Guard units independently of the Illinois governor's consent, has been met with resistance from Chicago's leadership.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker have expressed their opposition to this move, citing a decline in crime in the city. In an interview on "Face the Nation", Pritzker suggested that Trump's expected plans to mobilize federal forces in Chicago may be part of an attempt to "stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections."
Johnson and Pritzker have also voiced their intention to sue if Trump moves forward with the plan. Their stance is rooted in Chicago and Illinois' strong rules against cooperating with federal government immigration enforcement efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago, and intends to add more resources to those operations. DHS has requested limited logistical support from officials at the Naval Station Great Lakes, about 35 miles north of Chicago, to support the anticipated operations.
President Donald Trump has lashed out at Illinois' Democratic leadership, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, over their opposition to the planned mobilization. Trump warned Pritzker on social media to "straighten out Chicago's crime problems quickly" or face federal intervention.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has deployed National Guard troops for immigration enforcement. Previously, troops were sent to Los Angeles during immigration protests in June. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated that it is Trump's prerogative to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, as he did in Los Angeles. However, Noem also claimed that if Trump had not taken action, Los Angeles "would have burned" if left to the devices of the mayor and governor of the state.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the planned federal mobilization in Chicago will proceed and how the city's leadership will respond.
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