Texas National Guard soldiers are on the ground near Chicago - stationed at an Army Reserve facility in Elwood, Illinois - marking the first visible phase of President Trump’s controversial plan to send troops into Democratic-led cities.
The deployment follows a federal judge’s decision not to immediately block the move, despite a lawsuit filed by Illinois and Chicago challenging the legality.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has denounced the operation as an overreach, saying he received no notice and accusing the federal government of undermining state authority.
The precise mission of the Texan troops hasn’t been publicly confirmed, but they arrive amid heightened federal immigration enforcement - like ICE’s “Midway Blitz” operation in Chicago - and ongoing tensions between local and federal officials over policing, federal powers, and city sovereignty.
Stay tuned to KRLD for updates as this story develops - especially on how Illinois officials respond and what’s next in court.
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