Illinois Governor JB Pritzker sharply criticized the Trump administration on Monday, accusing it of orchestrating a “military-style invasion” of Chicago using aggressive tactics by immigration agents, including deploying Black Hawk helicopters for raids on apartment buildings. His comments came shortly after Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit aiming to block the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in the state.
At a news conference, JB Pritzker condemned what he described as a political stunt by President Trump, saying, “Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities.” He showed a video from a recent ICE raid in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, which he said was filmed and shared by federal authorities for social media. He emphasized the dramatic nature of the operation, noting the use of Black Hawk helicopters and over 100 agents in full tactical gear conducting the raid under cover of darkness, seemingly staged for cameras.
JB Pritzker accused the administration of intentionally stirring chaos and fear by treating peaceful protesters as violent mobs, firing gas pellets and tear gas, all allegedly to justify invoking the Insurrection Act and sending military troops to cities like Chicago.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed JB Pritzker claims, calling them a “smorgasbord of lies.” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin challenged the governor to witness the city’s reality firsthand, citing ongoing violence and attacks on law enforcement as consequences of local policies.
President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, said he had not yet decided to enact the Insurrection Act but would do so if necessary to maintain order, particularly if courts, governors, or mayors obstruct law enforcement efforts.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller defended ICE agents’ actions amid protests, describing attacks on immigration officers as examples of “domestic terrorism” and emphasizing the government’s right to enforce immigration laws.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
Illinois JB Pritzker and Chicago’s lawsuit requests a court order to prevent the federal government from deploying National Guard troops to the city, arguing that such deployment is unconstitutional when motivated by political disagreements rather than real emergencies. The suit claims there is no rebellion or insurrection in Illinois and condemns Trump’s use of force as politically driven and unlawful under the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
The legal filing references Trump’s social media posts about militarizing law enforcement and using Democratic-led cities as “training grounds” for the military. This lawsuit follows a similar federal judge’s restraining order blocking National Guard deployment to Oregon, where protests have occurred near an ICE facility in Portland.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump, underscored in her ruling the fundamental American principle opposing military intrusion into civilian affairs, affirming the nation’s commitment to Constitutional rather than martial law.
While Trump describes Chicago and Portland as plagued by violence and “war zones,” local leaders maintain that the president is exaggerating conditions to justify deploying federal forces. Both sides continue to clash over the scope and legality of the federal government’s response to unrest in these cities.
