Texas National Guard troops have arrived in the US state of Illinois, although they have not yet been deployed to the streets, state Governor JB Pritzker said, as quoted by DPA and BTA.
Pritzker added that state authorities have not received any information from the federal government.
American media reported that the soldiers were spotted at a military facility in Elwood, about 90 kilometers from downtown Chicago. Late Monday evening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a photo on “Ex“ showing National Guard soldiers boarding a plane and wrote under it: “Always ready. They are deploying now“.
Local authorities in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago are trying to block the deployment of soldiers through a lawsuit, but so far they have not succeeded, DPA reports. A judge is expected to consider a temporary restraining order no earlier than tomorrow, American media reports.
The administration of President Donald Trump has ordered about 300 soldiers from the Illinois National Guard to be mobilized for federal service to protect federal employees and property. Pritzker recently said that Trump has also mobilized 400 soldiers from the Texas National Guard for deployment to Illinois, Oregon and other regions.
Trump is trying to deploy National Guard troops to several Democratic-controlled cities, citing rising crime and protests against federal immigration enforcement operations. Local authorities in several states and cities have challenged the measure in court, arguing that it infringes on their sovereignty and sets a dangerous precedent for the use of military force in the country.
In the United States, National Guard units are usually commanded by governors. Only in times of war or national emergencies can the president take control. The Guard can be deployed throughout the country in the event of natural disasters, riots, or other emergencies.