Where things stand in Portland and Chicago as Trump officials promise imminent National Guard
Chicago, October 4, 2025
President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago, despite strong objections from Illinois state and city leaders. The move follows a string of protests and clashes involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson confirmed the decision, saying, “President Trump has authorized 300 National Guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets. He will not turn a blind eye to lawlessness in American cities.”
Governor Condemns Federal Overreach
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, sharply criticized the president’s move, calling it “outrageous and un-American.”
“This morning, the Trump administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” Pritzker said. “This is about control, not safety.”
The governor said he was informed by the Pentagon earlier in the day about the deployment order but did not specify when or where the troops would be stationed.
Protests and Clashes in Chicago
Tensions escalated after U.S. Border Patrol agents shot an armed woman in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the woman, who has not been identified, was part of a group that rammed vehicles into ICE cars. She later drove herself to the hospital, and her condition remains unclear.
Protesters have repeatedly gathered outside ICE facilities in Broadview and Brighton Park, demanding an end to federal enforcement operations. Some demonstrations turned violent, with ICE agents using pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
Federal officials said 13 protesters were arrested on Friday near the Broadview ICE facility.
Broader National Impact
Trump’s decision comes amid a broader push to increase federal control in Democrat-led cities. Similar deployments took place earlier this year in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
California Governor Gavin Newsom successfully sued to block National Guard deployments in his state, though the Trump administration has appealed the ruling.
Meanwhile, Tennessee National Guard troops are expected to support local police operations in Memphis.
Oregon Judge Blocks Portland Deployment
In a related development, a federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked the administration’s plan to deploy 200 National Guard members to Portland.
Judge Karin Immergut issued the order after Oregon state and city officials filed a lawsuit arguing the federal move was unnecessary and politically motivated.
Trump had earlier called Portland “war-ravaged,” a claim local leaders dismissed as exaggerated and based on outdated images from 2020 protests.
Officials said recent protests at the ICE building in Portland had been small and mostly peaceful before Trump announced the new deployment.
Summary
President Trump’s decision to send the National Guard to Chicago has reignited debates over federal versus state authority. While the White House defends the move as necessary to maintain law and order, state leaders argue it undermines local governance and escalates tensions.
#TrumpNews #ChicagoProtests #NationalGuard #BreakingNews #USPolitics