CHICAGO (WLS) — Anticipation is building for the expected surge in National Guard troops and ICE agents in Chicago
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The only question now is when.
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“We are going in,” President Donald Trump said.” I didn’t say when we are going in…If the governor of Illinois would call up — called me up, I would love to do it. We are going to do it anyway.”
Illinois Democratic Congresswoman Delia Ramirez was joined by other Illinois lawmakers in Washington DC Wednesday morning calling out the president’s planned actions in Chicago.
“It’s about control,” Congresswoman Ramirez said. “It”s about threatening diverse successful Democratic-led cities like Chicago that refuse to bow down to authoritarianism.
Along with Ramirez, Illinois Congressman Chuy Garcia and Senator Dick Durbin are calling out the legality of Trump’s use of guardsmen.
“This escalation is not about public safety or about law and order,” Garcia, (D, Chicago), said. “It’s an authoritarian power grab that has profound consequences that seeks to target and profile working class immigrant and Brown communities.”
“They are moving troops where we understand into federal facilities like Great Lakes Naval Training Station,” Senator Dick Durbin (D, IL). ” I’ve contacted the secretary of the Navy. I want a briefing on just what exactly is happening at that important federal facility in the Great Lakes area that serves Chicago and the region.”
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Governor JB Pritzker says some federal agents are being relocated from immigration operations in Los Angeles while the Texas National Guard is preparing for a Chicago deployment.
Pritzker says deploying the National Guard and more immigration agents to Chicago is unnecessary.
In a statement Cook Commissioner Sean Morrison responded to Pritzker’s claims, writing in part, “Most citizens, real parents, workers, families, support the rule of law and want safe communities. This should not be controversial. Asking for calm, empathy, and operational collaboration with federal law enforcement is reasonable and responsible.”
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While Republican state Representative Martin McLaughlin says he’s questioning why people are weary of National Guard troops in the city.
“I’m trying to understand why an American in uniform standing on a street corner trying to protect other Americans is a threat to anyone,” Representative McLaughlin said. “I think it is a threat to those that have failed.”
North suburban Evanston’s Human Service Committee also just passed a resolution calling on Congress to ban federal agents from wearing masks.
ABC7 reached out for comment, but did not hear back.
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