Around 200 troops with the Texas National Guard arrived in Illinois on Tuesday in order to protect federal property and personnel from repeated assaults and violent protests outside facilities that have plagued the city and surrounding suburbs for months, the Pentagon confirmed in a statement.
A Pentagon official confirmed to Fox News Tuesday that 200 personnel had been deployed to Illinois for an additional 60-day period. Troops arrived in Illinois “in support of the Federal Protection Mission to protect federal functions, personnel, and property,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
The deployment comes after several arrests have been made outside a facility in the community of Broadview.
The Broadview facility is one of many that has suffered repeat attacks from far-left mobs. Several Democrat candidates for an open House seat in Chicago, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and the progressive-aligned Kat Abughazaleh, have filmed themselves committing felonies by blocking federal vehicles and impeding agents.
Other rioters have clashed with agents, pelted rocks at vehicles and slashed tires in near daily disturbances at the facility. Agents have repeatedly attempted to control the crowd with pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets, though they have largely been outnumbered by the mob.
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The situation escalated significantly on Saturday when upwards of 10 vehicles intentionally rammed and trapped federal agents not far from the Broadview facility. At least one rioter was armed, prompting agents to fire shots in self-defense.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Saturday that additional special operations personnel would be deployed to Illinois after the ramming attack, which was one of two similar incidents that took place in the same day.
“The elite Texas National Guard are on the ground and ready to go,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced in an X post on Tuesday. “They are putting America first by ensuring that the federal government can safely enforce federal law.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reiterated Tuesday that he believes Trump’s order is “illegal, unconstitutional, dangerous and wrong.” In a controversial order issued Monday, Johnson claimed he had the authority to create “ICE-free zones” in Chicago and prohibit federal agents from making arrests, setting up a likely showdown with the federal government.
“The Trump administration must end the war on Chicago,” Johnson said during a news conference Monday. “The Trump administration must end this war against Americans. The Trump administration must end its attempt to dismantle our democracy.”
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