Hundreds of National Guard activated in Illinois

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Hundreds of National Guard soldiers are activated in Illinois for the next two months to assist in protecting federal property and personnel enforcing federal immigration law.

The issue is in front of a federal judge in Chicago on Thursday morning with the state seeking a temporary restraining order. President Donald Trump for weeks has said he was going to send in the military to help with public safety in Chicago. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says federal law enforcement are seeing increased assaults against them.

U.S. Northern Command announced Wednesday evening, the Texas National Guard are employed in the greater Chicago area with DHS as the lead federal agency.

“Approximately 200 soldiers from various units of the Texas National Guard and approximately 300 soldiers from various units of the Illinois National Guard were activated into a Title 10 status and have arrived in the greater Chicago area,” the agency said. “These soldiers are employed to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property. “

The guardsmen were mobilized for an initial period of 60 days.

The village of Broadview said approximately 45 Texas National Guard soldiers arrived Wednesday evening.

“During their patrols, Broadview police officers observed the vans parked in the rear of 2000 25th Ave and all of the guards were sleeping,” a statement from the village said. “We let them sleep undisturbed. We hope that they will extend the same courtesy in the coming days to Broadview residents who deserve a good night’s sleep, too. #TiredTexans.”

Illinois State Police said in a statement their unified command with local, county and state emergency management and law enforcement is separate from the activities of the National Guard. ISP had previously announced then unified command’s focus last week.

“In addition to protecting the safety and rights of people peacefully expressing their views, these measures will also ensure that third parties that need access to the facility – including attorneys and legal representatives, people bringing medicine to detainees, and representatives from foreign consulates – will maintain clear points of access to the facility,” ISP said Oct. 3.