Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said there is no emergency and accused President Donald Trump of “attempting to manufacture a crisis” after reports suggested the federal government might send the National Guard to Chicago to handle crime.
“The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention,” Pritzker said on Saturday.
This comes after Trump increased the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., to reduce crime. Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops have been sent to D.C. streets as part of the federal takeover there. Now, Trump says Chicago could be next for a federal crackdown.
The Pentagon has been planning a military deployment to Chicago for weeks, which could include a few thousand National Guard troops next month, according to The Washington Post.
“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority,” Pritzker said. “There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders.”
Pritzker also accused Trump of “attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.”
“We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois,” he added.
Trump says Chicago could be his administration’s next target for a federal crime crackdown.
Democrat Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said the report about a potential troop deployment “proves what we all know: he is willing to go to any lengths possible to create chaos if it means more political power—no matter who gets hurt.”
“As Lieutenant Governor and throughout my career, I’ve fervently fought for the reformation of our criminal legal system and under the Pritzker-Stratton administration, we’ve made tremendous progress,” she said. “Crime in Chicago is declining and there’s absolutely no rationale for this decision, other than to distract from the pain Trump is inflicting on working families with his dangerous agenda.”
“Illinois, Governor Pritzker and I are here to stand for your rights, your freedoms, and will protect you against whatever storms of hate and fear come our way,” she added.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, also a Democrat, said that sending the National Guard to Chicago “has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities.”
“An unlawful deployment of the [National Guard] would be unsustainable and would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made,” Johnson said. He also pointed to data showing that homicides, robberies, and shootings have dropped significantly over the past year.
