Texas National Guard Preparing for Chicago Deployment as Feds Stage in North Suburbs, Pritzker Says
— Governor J.B. Pritzker says Texas National Guard units are being readied for deployment to Chicago while federal immigration agents and other federal personnel are being staged in the city’s north suburbs; officials say the exact timing and scope remain unclear.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Pritzker reported Texas National Guard preparations for a potential Chicago deployment on Sept. 3, 2025.
- Federal personnel, including immigration agents, are being staged in north suburban sites, with reports of use of federal facilities near Great Lakes.
- President Trump has signaled a federal operation will proceed, saying ‘we are going in’ but not giving a timeline.
- Illinois leaders—including Rep. Delia Ramirez, Rep. Chuy Garcia and Sen. Dick Durbin—question the legal basis and public-safety rationale.
- Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison and some local officials support coordinated federal-state action for safety and rule of law.
- Evanston’s Human Services Committee approved a resolution seeking a ban on federal agents wearing masks in local operations.
Verified Facts
Governor Pritzker told reporters that some federal agents are being relocated from immigration operations in Los Angeles and that Texas National Guard units are preparing for possible deployment to Chicago. He described the federal movements as unnecessary for local public safety.
President Donald Trump publicly said the federal government would act, stating ‘we are going in’ while not specifying when or how many personnel would be sent. The president also indicated willingness to proceed with or without a state request.
Senator Dick Durbin said federal personnel appear to be moving into federal facilities such as the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and has requested a briefing from the Navy on those movements. Durbin’s inquiry focuses on the use of federal installations serving the Chicago region.
Members of Illinois’s congressional delegation, including Rep. Delia Ramirez and Rep. Chuy Garcia, described the planned federal actions as an overreach and raised concerns about targeting immigrant and minority communities. State and local leaders have exchanged public statements debating legality and intent.
Context & Impact
The potential deployment follows the Trump administration’s recent moves to use federal resources in cities it cites as facing crime and immigration challenges. Deployments of National Guard forces and increased immigration enforcement have precedent but raise legal and operational questions when state and local authorities do not request them.
Local reactions are split: some elected officials and county leaders call for cooperation with federal agencies to maintain public safety, while others warn about civil-rights impacts and community trust. The presence of uniformed troops or federal agents in neighborhoods could affect policing practices and community-police relations.
Practical considerations include command arrangements, rules of engagement, and whether Guard troops would operate under state or federal orders. Use of federal facilities such as Great Lakes could simplify logistics but also prompt oversight requests from federal lawmakers.
Official Statements
‘We are going in,’ the president said, while adding he did not provide a timetable for movement.
President Donald Trump
‘Deploying additional agents and troops to Chicago is unnecessary,’ Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement on Sept. 3, 2025.
Governor J.B. Pritzker
Unconfirmed
- Exact number of Texas National Guard troops slated for Chicago has not been publicly released.
- Precise locations, schedules and operational plans for staged federal agents in the north suburbs remain unannounced.
- Whether Guard personnel will be federalized or remain under state control has not been confirmed.
Bottom Line
As of Sept. 3, 2025, state and federal officials are preparing for a possible federal operation in Chicago that would include immigration agents and National Guard units from Texas. Key details—timing, scale, command authority and mission scope—remain unresolved and are prompting oversight requests and political debate. Expect clarifying statements from the governor’s office, the Department of Defense, and federal law-enforcement agencies in the coming days.