Pritzker says Illinois is ready as Trump considers sending National Guard to Chicago

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — First it was Los Angeles… then it was Washington D.C. Lately, it’s looking like Chicago might be the next stop for the National Guard.

“What possible justification could the White House have for planning such an exceptional action without any conversations or consultations with the governor, the mayor or the police?” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said at a news conference in Chicago on Monday.

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has said he is considering invoking the Insurrection Act of the Constitution to quell civil unrest. That would allow him to deploy the National Guard to major cities to clean up violent crime.

Trump has used a similar strategy in his mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

In that case, he used the centuries old Alien Enemies act to justify surging ICE budgets and operations.

“This will just do more harm and put more people at risk. Not only the National Guard people or soldiers that would be sent there, but also community members who don’t want to live under the boot of armed military personnel outside their door,” Ed Yohnka, with the ACLU of Illinois, said.

But on Monday Trump appeared to soften his stance on sending the National Guard.

He isn’t backing down on claims that they would stop violent crime in Chicago but he did say he was awaiting the governor’s request before sending troops.

Pritzker quickly shot down that possibility.

“Instead, I say ‘Mr. President, do not come to Chicago.’” Pritzker said at Monday’s news conference.

Even with the president appearing to soften his stance, Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson aren’t ignoring the possibility of guardsmen being deployed.

On Monday Pritzker called for any potential protests to remain peaceful and promised the state is ready to respond with lawsuits if troops are sent.

He also promised the president that any harm done to Chicago or Illinois wouldn’t be ignored.

“If you hurt my people, nothing will stop me. Not time or political circumstance from making sure that you face justice under our constitutional rule of law,” Pritzker said.