Illinois Dem Gov. JB Pritzker rejects ultimatum to deploy troops in Chicago ahead of expected federal takeover
WASHINGTON — Democratic Gov.JB Pritzker rejected an “ultimatum” from the US Department of War on Saturday to deploy troops in Chicago — and claimed that the Trump administration would respond by federalizing hundreds of Illinois National Guard members.“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” Pritzker posted on X.
“It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.”“In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard,” he added.“I want to be clear: there is no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois.”Reps for the Department of War and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.On Saturday morning, US Border Patrol agents opened fire on 10 cars who “boxed” them in during a patrol in Chicago’s Broadview neighborhood on the South Side, according to Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.“Agents were unable to move their vehicles and exited the car.
One of the drivers who rammed the law enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic weapon,” McLaughlin said in a statement.“Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed US citizen who drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds.”The DHS spokeswoman added that the armed woman had been flagged in a Customs and Border Protection bulletin last week “for doxing agents and posting online ‘Hey to all my gang let’s f— those mother f—ers up, don’t let them take anyone.’”There were no other injuries to law enforcement or others from the attack.“Pritzker’s Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area,” McLaughlin noted.“There is a growing crowd and we are deploying special operations to control...