A federal judge declined to block President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-send-texas-national-guard-troops-to-quell-anti-ice-attacks-in-chicago?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+To+Send+Texas+National+Guard+Troops+To+Quell+Anti-ICE+Attacks+In+Chicago">deployment</a> of Texas troops to Chicago Monday.
While the case is ongoing, the latest decision will allow the feds to send 200 Texas National Guard soldiers to quell anti-ICE violence across the sanctuary city. The next hearing in the case is set for Thursday, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/06/us/national-guard-trump-oregon-chicago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Times.
Troops are expected to arrive in the Windy City Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the report.
After announcing the state’s lawsuit against the deployment Monday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker indicated that he wouldn’t back down.
<div id="attachment_965221" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-965221" class="wp-image-965221 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2232086740.jpg" alt="CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 25: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker holds a news conference with other Illinois politicians and community leaders to address President Donald Trump's plan to send National Guard troops into Chicago on August 25, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Besides Chicago, the president on Friday said he planned to target Baltimore and New York as well for his next federal crackdown on crime following days of federal agents working the streets of Washington with DC Metro Police. Trump today appeared to back off from those threats in remarks to reporters." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2232086740.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2232086740-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2232086740-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2232086740-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Scott Olson/Getty Images</div>
“The state of Illinois is going to use every lever at our disposal to resist this power grab and get [Kristi] Noem’s thugs the hell out of Chicago,” Pritzker said in an afternoon press conference.
The decision to send troops to Chicago comes after Border Patrol agents were ambushed Saturday when two agitators allegedly rammed the agents’ vehicle in a convoy of cars.
The trapped agents encountered one of the alleged attackers, who was later <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/04/update-dhs-deploys-special-operations-after-multiple-violent-attacks-federal-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified</a> as Marimar Martinez, and determined that she was “armed with a semi-automatic weapon,” forcing them to “fire defensive shots at an unarmed U.S. citizen,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.
When the agents called Chicago police for reinforcements as a mob of rioters gathered around the scene, the local police were <a href="https://x.com/RedWave_Press/status/1975231794858340415" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> to stand down.
Martinez was identified in a federal law enforcement intelligence bulletin that circulated last week after she was allegedly “doxing agents and posting online ‘Hey to all my gang let’s f*** those motherf****ers up, don’t let them take anyone.’”
In response to the Trump administration’s efforts to restore peace, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-signs-executive-order-establishing-ice-free-zones?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Chicago+Mayor+Brandon+Johnson+Signs+Executive+Order+Establishing+%E2%80%98ICE+Free+Zones%E2%80%99">signed</a> an executive order Monday to create “ICE free zones” across the city.
“The order establishes ICE-free zones. That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for these raids,” Johnson said.
Like Illinois, the State of Oregon has taken legal steps to stop the Trump administration from sending soldiers from other states to assist ICE. As of publication, Texas troops are blocked from deploying to Portland.

Former President Trump And Fellow Conservatives Address Annual  CPAC Meeting

Judge Allows Trump To Deploy Troops To Chicago — For Now

Chicago

Donald Trump

Illegal Immigration

Illinois

J.B. Pritzker

The Trump administration will send Texas National Guard troops to Chicago to restore order amid a series of anti-ICE <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-arrests-two-after-attack-on-border-patrol-in-chicago?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=FBI+Arrests+Two+After+Attack+On+Border+Patrol+In+Chicago">attacks</a>.
Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/GovPritzker/status/1975013177026109717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on X Sunday night that Texas troops were preparing to come to the Windy City, casting the move as “Trump’s invasion.” By Monday, the sanctuary state filed a lawsuit in an attempt to thwart the effort.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Illinois is taking the Trump Administration to court for their unlawful and unconstitutional deployment of military troops to our state. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/ILAttyGeneral?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ILAttyGeneral</a> Raoul for helping defend the rule of law.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPritzker/status/1975212392511619370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
The War Department will deploy roughly 400 soldiers from Texas to Chicago and Portland as the feds face mounting threats from anti-ICE activists.
The latest attack on federal immigration authorities occurred on Saturday morning, when “officers were rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars” in Broadview, Illinois, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin <a href="https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/1974524869892276682" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X.
<div id="attachment_908485" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908485" class="wp-image-908485 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133331877.jpg" alt="EL PASO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Texas National Guard soldiers stand on patrol near banks of the Rio Grande river on April 02, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Texas continues awaiting a verdict on Senate Bill 4. Attorneys representing the state of Texas are scheduled to return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on April 3 to continue arguing for the constitutional basis of the bill. Senate Bill 4 allows state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants suspected of illegally crossing into the United States. Thus far, all prior attempts to put the Bill into effect have been blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="1024" height="681" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133331877.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133331877-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133331877-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133331877-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
The agents were trapped in and had to exit their car before they encountered one of the drivers who allegedly rammed them and determined that they were “armed with a semi-automatic weapon,” forcing the feds to “fire defensive shots at an unarmed U.S. citizen,” according to McLaughlin.
The armed alleged attacker, who was later <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/04/update-dhs-deploys-special-operations-after-multiple-violent-attacks-federal-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified</a> as Marimar Martinez, was the subject of a federal law enforcement intelligence bulletin that circulated last week after she was allegedly “doxing agents and posting online ‘Hey to all my gang let’s f*** those motherf****ers up, don’t let them take anyone.’”
Pritzker said “no officials from the federal government” contacted him “directly to discuss or coordinate” the deployment.
“It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops,” he said.
<div id="attachment_973997" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-973997" class="wp-image-973997 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2233428543.jpg" alt="CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (L) listens as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks to the press on September 02, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. They called the press conference to address President Donald Trump's threat to bring the National Guard and an influx of ICE agents into the city to help control crime." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2233428543.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2233428543-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2233428543-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2233428543-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Scott Olson/Getty Images</div>
The Illinois governor also called on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to stop the effort in its tracks.
“I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation,” Pritzker wrote.
“The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness,” he added.
<div id="attachment_957433" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-957433" class="wp-image-957433 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2162463589.jpg" alt="MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 17: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2162463589.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2162463589-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2162463589-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-2162463589-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images.</div>
But Abbott <a href="https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1975027635295007073" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he’s not going to back down.
“I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials. You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,” Abbott wrote on X.
“No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard. They defend our country with pride. America must also know that Texas still has thousands of National Guard assisting with the Border security,” he said.
The Trump administration commenced “Operation Midway Blitz” in an effort to nab illegal immigrants roaming the sanctuary state on September 8, resulting in more than 1,000 arrests.
With that, anti-ICE protesters have gathered outside an agency facility in Broadview, where demonstrators have tried to block agents from driving in and out of the facility.
State and local police in riot gear <a href="https://x.com/Garrett_FoxNews/status/1974148610372567329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the protests on Friday, while snipers were <a href="https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1974165474830397860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stationed</a> on the roof of the ICE facility.

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Trump To Send Texas National Guard Troops To Quell Anti-ICE Attacks In Chicago

Greg Abbott

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Texas

President Donald Trump’s latest move to confront rising lawlessness and attacks on federal immigration agents in Chicago is the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops, prompting Democrat Governor JB Pritzker to hyperventilate over “Trump’s Invasion.”
“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” Pritzker stated, according to the <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/05/president-trump-calling-up-300-illinois-national-guard-immediately-to-protect-ice-buildings-for-60-days/?lctg=B4845491D5F64499A4E4B513EB&amp;utm_email=B4845491D5F64499A4E4B513EB&amp;utm_source=listrak&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.chicagotribune.com%2f2025%2f10%2f05%2fpresident-trump-calling-up-300-illinois-national-guard-immediately-to-protect-ice-buildings-for-60-days%2f&amp;utm_campaign=trib-chicago_tribune-breaking_news-nl&amp;utm_content=alert">Chicago Tribune</a>, which reported that War Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a memo instructing Illinois National Guard leadership to deploy the troops to the Chicago region for at least 60 days. “It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops,” Pritzker declared.
The White House has stated that the National Guard troops will protect federal personnel and property—like ICE facilities—where violent demonstrations are either happening or expected. The memo calls for protecting federal law enforcement officials who are “performing Federal functions.”
Meanwhile, the Texas Guard is preparing to deploy hundreds more National Guard troops to Illinois.
Trump has been blunt about the situation in the Chicago area, saying, “Everybody knows Chicago is a hellhole right now.” The city is drowning in violent crime, and federal ICE agents have been under attack. In September, rioters surrounded ICE vehicles in Broadview, Illinois, threw tear gas, and even slashed tires in a protest against ICE. The Trump administration rolled out “Operation Midway Blitz,” which scooped up hundreds of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds—gang members, murderers, and sex offenders.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=fall40&amp;utm_content=fallsale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-13516">Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout!</a> 
Pritzker said over the weekend that he would refuse to deploy the state’s National Guard, stating that a federal deployment would be illegal, and has threatened to file a lawsuit to stop it, citing the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.
Trump’s justification to federalize the National Guard comes from the U.S. Code, specifically 10 U.S.C. § 12406, which states:” “Whenever (1) the United States, or any of the Commonwealths or possessions, is invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation; (2) there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States; or (3) the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States; then the President may call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard of any State in such numbers as he considers necessary to repel the invasion, suppress the rebellion, or execute those laws.”
On Sunday, Trump said, “I believe the politicians are under threat, because there’s no way somebody can say that things are wonderful in Chicago. There’s no city in the world like that. We’re going to straighten it out. And I think that Pritzker, he’s not a stupid person. I think that Pritzker is afraid for his life,” hinting that Pritzker was beholden to organizations the Trump administration believes support the protests over increased immigration enforcement.
In Oregon, a federal judge blocked President Trump’s effort to deploy California National Guard troops to Portland after previously issuing a restraining order halting the Oregon Guard deployment. Trump fired back, calling the judge “shameful” and insisting that cities like Portland and Chicago are “burning” and in desperate need of federal assistance.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-rips-dems-for-refusing-federal-help-after-more-deadly-shootings-in-chicago?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Trump Rips Dems For Refusing Federal Help After More Deadly Shootings In Chicago</a>

MixCollage-06-Oct-2025-09-21-AM-7291

Trump Deploys National Guard To Chicago As Pritzker Melts Down Over ‘Invasion’

Crime

National Guard

Politics

Dubbed &#8220;Operation Midway Blitz,&#8221; the Trump administration&#8217;s sweeping illegal immigration raids across Illinois have yielded more than 1,000 arrests of illegal immigrants, The Daily Wire can reveal.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection sent reinforcements to the sanctuary state Sept. 8, resulting in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dhs-arrests-800-illegal-immigrants-in-illinois-raids-as-trumps-deportations-continue-amid-shutdown?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DHS+Arrests+800+Illegal+Immigrants+In+Illinois+Raids+As+Trump%E2%80%99s+Deportations+Continue+Amid+Shutdown">arrests</a> of gang members, sex offenders, child abusers, and other violent criminals, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire.
“Our patriotic law enforcement officers are making these arrests despite working [without] pay because of the Democrats&#8217; shutdown,&#8221; Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement regarding the operation.
&#8220;President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow continued violence or repeat offenders to terrorize our neighborhoods and victimize our children. Operation Midway Blitz is making Illinois safe again,&#8221; she added.
<div id="attachment_980865" style="width: 381px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-980865" class="wp-image-980865 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-20.jpg" alt="" width="371" height="337" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-20.jpg 371w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-20-300x273.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px" />Erick Rios, a criminal illegal alien, and confirmed MS-13 gang member with prior arrests for consumption of liquor by a minor, violating a bail bond, criminal damage to property, mob action, a conviction for DUI, and a final order of removal. (DHS)</div>
<div id="attachment_980895" style="width: 691px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-980895" class="wp-image-980895 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-22.jpg" alt="" width="681" height="681" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-22.jpg 681w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-22-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-22-576x576.jpg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-22-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes=" (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" />Rafael Alberto Tolentino Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico with convictions for aggravated domestic battery of a 3-year-old. (DHS)</div>
<div id="attachment_980869" style="width: 251px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-980869" class="wp-image-980869 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-21.jpg" alt="Ludwing Jeanpier Parra-Perez, a criminal illegal alien and a confirmed member of the Tren de Aragua gang. (DHS)" width="241" height="241" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-21.jpg 241w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Untitled-design-21-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes=" (max-width: 241px) 100vw, 241px" />Ludwing Jeanpier Parra-Perez, a criminal illegal alien, and a confirmed member of the Tren de Aragua gang. (DHS)</div>
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tagged along with federal authorities Friday in Broadview, Illinois, where she said she was &#8220;blocked from accessing the Village of Broadview Municipal Building in Illinois.&#8221;
&#8220;We were stopping for a quick bathroom break. This is a public building. The Village of Broadview receives at least $1 million in federal funding every year,&#8221; Noem <a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1974189838849987022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on X, sharing a video of the encounter.
&#8220;This is how JB Pritzker and his cronies treat our law enforcement. Absolutely shameful,&#8221; she added, referencing the Illinois Democratic governor and rumored 2028 presidential candidate.
The ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, has for weeks been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/protesters-try-to-block-ice-agents-from-driving-into-illinois-facility?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Armed+Rioter+Arrested+As+Protesters+Try+To+Block+ICE+Agents+From+Driving+Into+Illinois+Facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted</a> by rioters, who have tried to thwart the federal arrest operations. On Friday, state and local police <a href="https://x.com/Garrett_FoxNews/status/1974148610372567329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the latest demonstrations in riot gear.
Snipers were also <a href="https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1974165474830397860" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stationed</a> on the roof of the ICE facility.
Pritzker has responded by condemning the effort.
“The Trump Administration’s DHS officers appear to be carrying large weapons around downtown Chicago in camouflage and masks. This is not making anybody safer — it’s a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses,” Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/GovPritzker/status/1972398797688127984">wrote</a> on X Sunday.

Sen. Alex Padilla is forcibly removed from Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference

Over 1,000 Illegal Immigrants Arrested In Trump’s ‘Operation Midway Blitz’

Department of Homeland Security

Homeland Security agents arrested more than 800 illegal immigrants as part of its &#8220;Operation Midway Blitz&#8221; and the massive raids will continue despite the government <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shutdown-or-not-theres-no-stopping-trumps-deportations?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Shutdown+Or+Not%2C+There%E2%80%99s+No+Stopping+Trump%E2%80%99s+Deportations">shutdown</a>.
Among those arrested were rapists, individuals with DUI convictions and previously-deportation illegal immigrants, <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/01/dhs-arrests-more-800-illegal-aliens-including-worst-worst-criminals-operation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Department of Homeland Security. In one part of the operation, roughly 300 federal agents descended upon an apartment complex teeming with suspected Tren de Aragua gang members.
“The Trump Administration will not allow violent criminals or repeat offenders to terrorize our neighborhoods or victimize our children and innocent Americans,”  Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement regarding the arrests.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chicago waters, watchful eyes&#8230; vigilance never rests. During Operation Midway Blitz, Border Patrol Marine Units in Chicago apprehended an illegal alien from Honduras who had been previously removed 5 times, making this arrest his 6th time.
The Green Machine will keep looking… <a href="https://t.co/xzKHrIUR6b">pic.twitter.com/xzKHrIUR6b</a>
— Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino (@CMDROpAtLargeCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMDROpAtLargeCA/status/1973200598372851841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
The Trump administration&#8217;s immigration raids in Chicago and the nearby suburbs started in September, with the deployment of additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents to the Windy City. In response, protestors have taken to the streets in an attempt to block the agents from arresting illegal immigrants.
Rioters have also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/protesters-try-to-block-ice-agents-from-driving-into-illinois-facility?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Armed+Rioter+Arrested+As+Protesters+Try+To+Block+ICE+Agents+From+Driving+Into+Illinois+Facility">targeted</a> an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, laying their hands on agents, hurling tear gas at them and slashing the tires of their cars.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sickening chants of “shoot ICE” from the mob of over 200 violent psychopaths outside the Broadview Processing Center in Illinois.
This is transpiring just a few days after the horrific terrorist attack on an ICE facility in Dallas.
DHS is calling on <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPritzker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovPritzker</a> and… <a href="https://t.co/nrg8VWyrbd">pic.twitter.com/nrg8VWyrbd</a>
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1971678074505757134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<div class="ad-wrapper" data-testid="ad-wrapper">While federal agents worked to clean the Chicago streets, Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/GovPritzker/status/1972398797688127984" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed</a> his disapproval of the effort.</div>
<div data-testid="ad-wrapper"></div>
<div data-testid="ad-wrapper">&#8220;The Trump Administration&#8217;s DHS officers appear to be carrying large weapons around downtown Chicago in camouflage and masks. This is not making anybody safer — it’s a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses,&#8221; Pritzker wrote on X Sunday.</div>
<div data-testid="ad-wrapper"></div>
<div data-testid="ad-wrapper">DHS, however, remains undeterred, said McLaughlin.</div>
<div data-testid="ad-wrapper"></div>
<div data-testid="ad-wrapper">“We will not allow sanctuary politicians or violent rioters to stop us from enforcing the law and arresting pedophiles, murderers, gang members, rapists, and domestic abusers from American communities,&#8221; she said.</div>

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DHS Arrests 800 Illegal Immigrants In Illinois Raids As Trump’s Deportations Continue Amid Shutdown

Brandon Johnson

Sanctuary Cities

A 40-year-old man was killed in a crash in Chicago on his way to work last week after a group of robbers sped away from a smash-and-grab heist at a Louis Vuitton store on Michigan Avenue. One of the seven suspects charged in connection with the crimes was a community “peacekeeper” and posed for a photo with Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker just one week before the storefront raid.
Kellen McMiller, 35, is now facing a list of charges that include murder, burglary, and felony theft, Fox 32 Chicago <a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/louis-vuitton-crash-chicago-father-dies">reported</a>. McMiller, who recently posed with Pritzker while wearing his “peacekeeper” uniform, also has outstanding warrants in four states, including Illinois, Florida, Indiana, and Wisconsin, CWB Chicago <a href="https://cwbchicago.com/2025/09/days-before-fatal-mag-mile-crash-and-grab-accused-man-posed-with-governor-at-peacekeeper-event.html">reported</a>. Fox 32 also reported that McMiller was a “peacekeeper,” an individual involved in violence-prevention work, and had “at least four fugitive warrants, according to authorities.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Peak Illinois and left-wing “criminal justice reform.” Dude was wanted in FOUR STATES &amp; ended up posing for a photo with Pritzker as a non-police “peacekeeper.” Days later, the perp allegedly participated in a fatal smash-and-grab robbery in Chicago. <a href="https://t.co/4EFAdM4iBE">https://t.co/4EFAdM4iBE</a> <a href="https://t.co/VVNOSZ8avg">pic.twitter.com/VVNOSZ8avg</a>
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) <a href="https://twitter.com/guypbenson/status/1968653655130751167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Footage of the crime reportedly showed the suspects backing a pickup truck through the store windows. The suspects then stole around $700,000 in merchandise, according to court records. Dejuan Wingard, the 30-year-old man who was allegedly behind the wheel of the getaway car, was driving nearly 100 miles per hour when he crashed into the vehicle that 40-year-old Mark Arceta was driving.
Pritzker met with “peacekeepers” in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago two weeks ago as he continues to rail against the Trump administration’s desires to send in federal agents and National Guard troops to address violent crime in the city. Pritzker claimed that the “peacekeepers” are “doing the hard work” of preventing violent crime, adding that “troops on the ground” would hinder that effort.
“In Englewood today to meet with Peacekeepers who are working to create safer communities,” Pritzker <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1378083797214524">wrote</a> on Facebook. “It’s folks like these that we need more of doing the hard work of community violence prevention, not troops on the ground to undermine efforts fighting crime.”
Chicago’s “<a href="https://omb.illinois.gov/public/gata/csfa/Program.aspx?CSFA=3013">Peacekeepers Program</a>,” which began under the Office of Firearm Violence in 2018, aims to rely on “the influence of community residents” to prevent violent crime and partner with “young men and women who live in neighborhoods that are at a high risk for violence.” Pritzker and Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson have <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_7ede080d-de0f-42d9-9736-905e57762504.html">called</a> for federal funding to go toward “violence interruption programs” while arguing that President Donald Trump’s push to send in the National Guard to clean up Chicago is a dangerous power grab.
“I would love it if he would restore funding for police, would restore funding for violence interruption programs, which we are the best in the country at, I might add,” Pritzker said earlier this month.
A <a href="https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/icymi-governor-pritzker-meets-with-community-members-amid-heightened-concern-of-trumps-federal-deployment-plans">press release</a> issued by the governor’s office on September 5 showed McMiller posing with Pritzker, but the photo was quickly <a href="https://cwbchicago.com/2025/09/days-before-fatal-mag-mile-crash-and-grab-accused-man-posed-with-governor-at-peacekeeper-event.html">removed</a> after reports of McMiller’s suspected involvement in the smash-and-grab robbery and the fatal crash that followed, according to CWB Chicago.
A spokesman for Pritzker&#8217;s office told The Daily Wire, “The Governor meets hundreds of people in communities every week and is often asked to take photos. We were extremely troubled to learn that this individual was arrested for his alleged involvement in this serious crime, and we expect them to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.&#8221;
&#8220;The Governor will keep doing everything in his power to fight crime, keep our neighborhoods safe, and support community violence intervention, which have been proven to work,&#8221; the spokesman added. &#8220;For example, the Peacekeepers Program has a strong track record reducing violent crime by 41% over the past two years and providing community members with a path towards rehabilitation.”
Arceta, killed in the smash-and-grab, never met his baby boy, who was born the day after his death, Fox 32 reported. At least three of the other suspects in the crime have been arrested multiple times in the past. Darius Bowdry, a 30-year-old man accused in the smash-and-grab, has been arrested 12 times as an adult in Chicago. Alton Jackson, 37, was released on parole in May after he was sentenced to two years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. It’s the fifth time Jackson has been arrested as an adult in Chicago.
Trump, who has hinted for weeks that National Guard troops would be deployed to Chicago, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-targets-memphis-crime-with-strategy-proven-in-washington-d-c">said</a> on Monday that Chicago is “probably” the next city on his list after he signed a memo directing a crackdown on crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
This article has been updated to included comment from Pritzker&#8217;s office.

JB Pritzker

Pritzker’s ‘Peacekeeper’ Tied To Fatal Smash-And-Grab Getaway

Trump Administration

Violent Crime

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/08/us-news/trump-admin-launches-operation-midway-blitz-in-push-to-fight-crime-and-target-illegal-immigrants-in-chicago/">officially launched</a> Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, marking the beginning of a high-profile ICE crackdown targeting criminal illegal aliens — a move already sending Democratic leaders into a frenzy.
The Monday operation, according to DHS, is dedicated to the memory of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash by an illegal alien, Julio Cucul-Bol, in Illinois. ICE agents, who have been quietly preparing in the city for over a week, are now arresting illegal immigrants with criminal records — a population the administration says has thrived under Governor J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary policies.
“President Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem stand with the victims of illegal alien crime while Governor Pritzker stands with criminal illegal aliens,” DHS stated bluntly.
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DHS is launching Operation Midway Blitz in honor of Katie Abraham who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run car wreck caused by criminal illegal alien Julio Cucul-Bol in Illinois.
This ICE operation will target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois… <a href="https://t.co/OjbgtTE1Au">pic.twitter.com/OjbgtTE1Au</a>
&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1965082306177122404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Chicago Democrats spent the weekend protesting the federal presence — and Trump made no effort to soften the blow. On social media, the president <a href="applewebdata://365BC702-4E46-4DDF-8B65-2FBDEB075A98/v">posted a meme</a> titled “Chipocalypse Now,” spoofing &#8220;Apocalypse Now&#8221; with the tagline: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”
Trump clarified Monday that the ICE raids are currently limited to immigration enforcement and not a full policing surge — “yet.” He emphasized that the White House remains open to sending broader federal reinforcements to the city, but is awaiting a formal request.
“We’d love to go into Chicago,” Trump said. “We’re waiting for a call from Chicago.” He highlighted the staggering crime statistics that continue to plague the city, pointing to six murders just over the weekend and nearly 50 killings in recent weeks. “Only the criminals will be hurt,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115168933967621443">wrote</a> on Truth Social.
Pritzker has responded with characteristic indignation, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-chicago-immigration-war-department-pritzker-1f6b2a08ed8aab04f0caf02ef506aafa">calling</a> Trump a “wannabe dictator.” “The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson <a href="https://x.com/ChicagosMayor/status/1964384513548570871">wrote</a> on X.
But for many residents, the crisis is less about optics and more about survival. Chicago experienced 572 homicides in 2024 — leading the nation for the 13th straight year. And over Labor Day weekend alone, nearly 60 people were shot, with nine killed.
Despite public outcry and media pressure, both Pritzker and Johnson have repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s offers for help. “There is not an emergency,” Pritzker has insisted, while Johnson shouted to a crowd, “No federal troops in the city of Chicago.”
Trump isn’t buying it. “We’re going in,” he told reporters <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-declares-were-going-in-chicago-on-notice-as-national-guard-plans-imminent">last week</a>. “I didn’t say when … but we have the right to do it. I have an obligation to protect this country.”
Operation Midway Blitz is now underway — and the battle between Washington and Illinois Democrats is only heating up.

Trump Suggests National Guard Will Go To Chicago

ICE Storm Hits Chicago: Trump Launches ‘Operation Midway Blitz’

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

U.S.

President Donald Trump blasted Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday morning after seven people were killed and at least a dozen more were wounded in shootings throughout Chicago over the weekend.
Police in Chicago said the shooting victims ranged between the ages of 15 and 57 in more than a dozen shootings between Friday and Sunday, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-weekend-shootings-sep-5-to-8-2025/">reported</a>. The violence in Chicago over the weekend came after another deadly few days over Labor Day weekend, when eight people were <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-shootings-labor-day-58c2b6678c89d340fb5ab699bf142247">killed</a> and at least 50 people were wounded.
&#8220;Governor Pritzker just stated that he doesn&#8217;t want Federal Government HELP! WHY???&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115168933967621443">posted</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;What is wrong with this guy, and the 5% in Polls Mayor. I want to help the people of Chicago, not hurt them. Only the Criminals will be hurt! We can move fast and stop this madness. The City and State have not been able to do the job. People of Illinois should band together and DEMAND PROTECTION. IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE!!! ACT NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!!!&#8221;
In recent weeks, Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to address the city&#8217;s violent crime problem after he sent troops and federal agents into Washington, D.C., last month. Trump posted a meme on Saturday, showing an AI-generated image of himself with military helicopters flying over Chicago, which is shown in flames.
The image was captioned: &#8220;I love the smell of deportations in the morning&#8230; Chicago about to find out why it&#8217;s called the Department of War.&#8221; Trump border czar Tom Homan said on Sunday that &#8220;sanctuary cities&#8221; should expect to see a surge in immigration enforcement, adding that use of National Guard troops to assist was on the table, ABC 7 Chicago <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/live-updates/chicago-federal-intervention-latest-president-trumps-immigration-enforcement-possible-national-guard-deployment-live-updates/17758521/entry/17767661/">reported</a>.
<iframe class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0;" src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115158096026629509/embed" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script>
&nbsp;
Democrats, including Pritzker, argued that the meme was a threat &#8220;to go to war with an American city.&#8221;
&#8220;This is not a joke. This is not normal,&#8221; Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/GovPritzker/status/1964367057052701152">posted</a> on X. &#8220;Donald Trump isn&#8217;t a strongman, he&#8217;s a scared man. Illinois won&#8217;t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.&#8221;
Mayor Johnson <a href="https://x.com/chicagosmayor/status/1964384513548570871?s=46&amp;t=NOfQRKFbAKf3WtjF9OVfDQ">added</a>, &#8220;The President&#8217;s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution. We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.&#8221;
Chicago has reported the most <a href="https://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/chicago-has-most-murders-of-any-us-city-for-13-consecutive-years-leavitt-white-house-press-secretary-president-donald-trump-illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-washington-dc-crime-crackdown-statistics-murder-homicide-deaths-carjacking-theft-assaults-weapons">homicides</a> of any American city for 13 straight years. Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-declares-were-going-in-chicago-on-notice-as-national-guard-plans-imminent">promised</a> last week that the federal government would take action.
&#8220;We&#8217;re going in. I didn&#8217;t say when we&#8217;re going in. … This isn&#8217;t a political thing. I have an obligation,&#8221; Trump said.
A National Guard deployment to Chicago would likely face legal challenges. Last week, a federal judge in California <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-rules-trump-illegally-deployed-us-military-to-los-angeles">ruled</a> that Trump&#8217;s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June was unlawful. The Trump administration is also being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/d-c-files-suit-to-end-trumps-national-guard-deployment">sued</a> over its use of the National Guard in Washington, D.C.

Trump Rips Dems For Refusing Federal Help After More Deadly Shootings In Chicago

Executive

Shooting

President Donald Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he intends to clean up Chicago, no matter what the Democratic politicians who run the city and the state have to say.
Over the Labor Day weekend, nearly 60 people were shot, and at least nine people were killed in Chicago. Under Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson, the city experienced <a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-crime-numbers-johnson-releases-2024-stats-touts-citys-progress.amp?utm_source=chatgpt.com">572 homicides</a> in 2024, making it the deadliest U.S. city by total homicides for the 13th consecutive year.
Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker “has repeatedly resisted <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1960006729619443983">calls</a> from President Donald J. Trump to ask for assistance in quelling the violence,” The White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/09/for-j-b-pritzker-when-will-enough-be-enough/">noted</a>. Some of Pritzker’s statements have included, “<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/guard-not-needed-in-chicago-pritzker-tells-ap-during-tour-of-city-to-counter-trumps-crime-claims#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%E2%80%99ve%20been%20fighting%20crime.%20We%E2%80%99ve%20been%20trying%20to%20prevent%20crime%20and%20it%E2%80%99s%20been%20working.%E2%80%9D">We’ve been trying to prevent crime and it’s been working</a>,” “<a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1962168311614931214">We have our job, which is to fight violent crime on the streets of our city — and by the way, we’re succeeding</a>,” “<a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/01/us-news/54-shot-7-killed-in-chicago-weekend-bloodbath-after-pritzker-claims-trump-national-guard-not-needed/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">National Guard troops or any kind of troops on the streets of an American city don’t belong unless there is an insurrection, unless there is truly an emergency – and there is not</a>,” “<a href="https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/statement-from-governor-pritzker-on-reports-of-military-deployments">Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis</a>,” and “<a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1962949118088675839">Big cities have crime</a>.”
On Labor Day, Johnson <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chicago-mayor-calls-on-organized-labor-to-defend-city-from-trump">yelled to a crowd</a>, “No federal troops in the city of Chicago. No militarized force in the city of Chicago. We’re going to defend our democracy in the city of Chicago.&#8221;
“Despite pleas from <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/08/yes-chicago-has-a-crime-problem-just-ask-its-residents/#:~:text=Chicago%E2%80%99s%20residents%20want%20action%3A">residents</a>, <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1962854649771294748">members of</a> <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1960038758855881215">the city council</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1962854049486643572">even MSNBC</a>, Pritzker is too blinded by Trump Derangement Syndrome to take action in the best interest of his constituents and end the bloodshed,” The White House stated. “The Trump Administration’s message to Chicagoans and residents in Democrat-run cities nationwide is simple: <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1961117590467514686">you don’t have to live like this</a>.”
On Tuesday, Trump had a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/09/02/trump-chicago-national-guard/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">succinct response</a> when asked by reporters if he had decided whether to send National Guard troops to Chicago, declaring, “We’re going in. I didn’t say when we’re going in. … This isn’t a political thing. I have an obligation.”
He <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-chicago-baltimore-law-enforcement-6d7c80258f17c3d679358467531f7e9d">added</a> that if Pritzker would “call me up, I would love to do it. Now, we’re going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it. Because I have an obligation to protect this country and that includes Baltimore. &#8230; Baltimore’s a very unsafe place.”

President Trump Meets With His Cabinet At The White House

Trump Declares ‘We’re Going In’—Chicago On Notice As National Guard Plans Imminent

Speaking alongside Texas Democrat legislators who fled their state in order to block the Texas GOP from pursuing redistricting, Illinois Democrat Governor J.B. Pritzker reached the zenith of hypocrisy, declaring that changing election maps in Illinois was “not something that I want to do,” while rhapsodizing, “We&#8217;re fighting for democracy.”
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Illinois <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPritzker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovPritzker</a>: &#8220;Here in the state of Illinois, it is possible to redistrict. It&#8217;s not something that I want to do &#8230; We&#8217;re fighting for democracy. There are not rules anymore, apparently.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/fvWnsaW1M2">pic.twitter.com/fvWnsaW1M2</a>
— CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1952760209434087518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Pritzker presided over a congressional redistricting in Illinois in 2021 that received an “F” for its partisanship from gerrymander.princeton.edu, a website that specializes in tracing gerrymandering across the nation.
In 2018, in his first campaign for governor, Pritzker stressed the need for independent congressional and state legislative redistricting, <a href="https://www.nprillinois.org/statehouse/2021-04-27/gop-accuses-pritzker-of-breaking-campaign-promise-on-fair-maps">saying</a>, “We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps, but in the meantime, I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map.”
In January 2021, Pritzker reiterated that promise; his spokesman <a href="https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzker-breaks-promise-to-end-illinois-gerrymandering/">said</a> Pritzker “has been clear he <a href="https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/01/05/illinois-house-republican-propose-redistricting-reform/6551834002/">will veto</a> a partisan map.” But by April 2021, he said he trusted state lawmakers — as both chambers of the state government were controlled by Democrats — to draw a fair redistricting map, claiming it was too late for an independent commission. Republican House leader Jim Durkin slammed Pritzker, saying he “seems to suffer from retrograde amnesia.”
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) echoed, “Governor Pritzker lied to people of Illinois, plain and simple. When he was a candidate for Governor in 2018, Pritzker made an ironclad promise to voters that he would veto any redistricting proposal that was drawn by legislators. That turned out to be a lie. Now that he’s in power and the Democrats have maintained their supermajority control of the General Assembly, Pritzker is enabling a partisan redistricting process that will be used to tighten his party’s grip on power for another decade.”
Illinois House Assistant Minority Leader Tim Butler (R-Springfield) pointed out Pritzker had previously said if there were not an amendment, he would support creating an independent commission. “Butler added that he has a bill ready to go, but Democrats have blocked the effort rather than Republicans as Pritzker now claims,” Illinois Policy reported.
“I would say it’s your friends and the Democratic Party that are not engaging. And we need to have you hold to your word, governor, that you will veto, veto, a partisan map like your office has said,” Butler told the Illinois State House.

Texas Democratic Lawmakers Flee State In Effort To Halt Redistricting Legislation

Mr. Hypocrisy: Pritzker Bashes Texas Maps, Forgets His Own Power Grabs In Illinois

General

Hypocrisy

Redistricting

Texas Democrats

Even former NBC anchor Chuck Todd recognized the irony in play when Texas Democrats, unable to win their state legislature&#8217;s redistricting fight by legitimate means, fled to the highly gerrymandered state of Illinois for refuge when they broke quorum in protest.
Todd, the longtime host of NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; made the comments during an appearance on &#8220;CNN News Central&#8221; after some 51 Texas legislators <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-dems-cant-win-redistricting-fight-so-they-bravely-turn-tail-and-flee-the-state">fled to Chicago</a> to stop the progress of a Republican-driven redistricting plan — a plan they complain is &#8220;gerrymandered&#8221; and could tip as many as five congressional seats toward the GOP.
WATCH:
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🚨NEW: Chuck Todd *BLASTS* Texas Dems for protesting gerrymandering by fleeing to gerrymandered Illinois🚨
&#8220;I think it’s a bad look for a party that claims to be always trying to protect the democracy.&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/DailyCaller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyCaller</a> <a href="https://t.co/XD2MAzVTjL">pic.twitter.com/XD2MAzVTjL</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJournoDC/status/1952471645618417737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It seems as if the strategy is: bring more attention to this, make everybody uncomfortable. Right? The more painful you make the process in Texas, the more it’s hard to replicate. Maybe there isn’t — they may be — their own colleagues aren’t as interested in this. Congressional Republicans that serve in Texas, whose districts are actually going to get impacted negatively, also secretly are kind of hoping this goes away, too. And I think they think the longer — the more painful they can make this in doing it — maybe there’s a way to shut this down,&#8221; Todd said of the redistricting process.
But then he pivoted to address the fact that the Democrats had fled to Illinois — in part because Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker had expressed solidarity with them in the fight against the new maps — noting that when it comes to gerrymandering, Illinois is home of the real professionals.
&#8220;The part that I think is sort of bad — I think it’s a bad look for a party that claims to be always trying to protect the democracy — is to hole up in a state that gerrymanders: the state of Illinois. I mean, one of the worst … Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland — those are your four giant gerrymandered states. And if you’re trying to make a point on gerrymandering, I don’t think I’d be going to the state of Illinois as a place to hide,&#8221; he explained.
Illinois redrew district maps in 2021 in a successful effort to wrest control of two Republican seats — one of them belonging at the time to Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/adam-kinzinger-suggests-he-risked-his-seat-to-save-democracy-democrat-gerrymandering-erased-his-district">Adam Kinzinger</a> (R-IL) — ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

Chuck Todd

‘A Bad Look’: Even Chuck Todd Gets Irony Of Texas Dems Fleeing To Illinois To Protest Redistricting

'A Bad Look’: Even Chuck Todd Gets Irony Of Texas Dems Fleeing To Illinois To Protest Redistricting

Media

Democrats — who have a habit of puffing out their chests as they boast of their courage — are having a very tough time with continued Republican victories as their poll numbers continue to be in the trash. All of this is now manifesting in their latest routine in Texas.
Texas Republicans are looking right now at redistricting the state congressionally, a process called gerrymandering.
That’s quite typical around the United States. Every state has some form of gerrymandering — and some of the worst gerrymandered states are Democrat-dominated states.
If you look at a map of Illinois with its congressional districts, it looks insane. The congressional districts make no sense because they&#8217;re all over the place. One congressional district, the 13th, looks like a snake that travels halfway through the state, and that is juxtaposed with the 17th congressional district, which was created simply to get to a Democratic majority.
<div id="attachment_956575" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-956575" class="size-large wp-image-956575" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-384x576.jpg" alt="Screenshot: @kerpen/X. https://x.com/kerpen/status/1952175690176221608" width="384" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-384x576.jpg 384w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-1360x2040.jpg 1360w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MixCollage-04-Aug-2025-02-18-PM-2730-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes=" (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" />Screenshot: @kerpen/X</div>
The attempt to treat gerrymandering as though it is unnatural and those kinds of politics are only pursued by one side — which is what the Democrats are claiming — is absolute nonsense.
The Texas state Republicans are now attempting to re-gerrymander the state. Texas Democrats have threatened that they would run away from the state so the state legislature cannot reach a quorum.
In order for them to do that, they have to claim that the gerrymandering is an authoritarian threat to democracy, as opposed to a way that congressional districts have been created since the beginning of our Republic.
There is nothing new here. Elbridge Gerry, from whom the word “gerrymander” is derived, was the Vice President of the United States who served under President James Madison from 1813 until his death in 1814.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2252-texas-democrats-run-away-plus-the-real-gaza-starvation?elementPosition=1&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
But according to former Barack Obama Attorney General Eric Holder, what the Texas Republicans are doing is “authoritarian” and a “threat to democracy.” Holder, who once called himself Barack Obama&#8217;s “wingman,” stated, “What we&#8217;re seeing now is an attempt by the White House to insulate itself from any kind of congressional scrutiny, any kind of congressional oversight, to make sure that Donald Trump remains the authoritarian figure that he has become. We have a compliant Congress, and he wants to ensure that given the fact that they pass this bill — that is unpopular, that takes healthcare away from people, that gives tax breaks to billionaires, and it puts at risk the Republican majority — that he continues to have that compliant Republican House of Representatives.”
The idea that the president is responsible for gerrymandering as opposed to the party that happens to be in control of the particular state legislature is ridiculous.
So what are Texas Democrats doing? They&#8217;re doing what they&#8217;ve done before. They&#8217;re running away.
POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/08/04/the-mess-with-texas-00491589">reported</a> on Monday:
<blockquote>When the Texas legislature reconvenes today at 4 p.m. ET, it will be 57 Democrats short of a quorum. While a small number of Democratic legislators remain in Austin, many more have fled. Instead, some will be in New York, meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul; they’ll hold a media availability at 10 a.m. in Albany. Others will be hunkered down at an undisclosed hotel in the Chicagoland area; Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is providing them with logistical support. Still others are expected in Boston for the National Conference of State Legislators.</blockquote>
There&#8217;s great irony that legislators from Texas are fleeing to Chicago, considering Illinois one of the most gerrymandered states in America. Illinois Democratic governor J.B. Pritzker is providing them with logistical support, which is no shock, as he wants to run for president in 2028.
Texas Democratic State Representative James Talarico told POLITICO, “I’m hoping that what we’ve heard from blue state lawmakers talking about retaliation may give Texas Republicans pause, it may give Speaker Mike Johnson pause, because he’s got members in blue states that may lose their seats if this escalates further.”
POLITICO continued:
<blockquote>Aboard the bus, he and other members talked about how Abraham Lincoln once broke quorum in the Illinois state legislature by jumping out of a window. “Everybody is hungry and tired, but in good spirits,” Talarico told Playbook.</blockquote>
The genuine heroism of these people.
This is not the first time Texas Democrats have run away to break the quorum. They did this back in 2021; in doing so, they released some of the worst social media ever. They went to Washington, D.C., and started releasing photos of themselves eating salads and talking about what absolute heroes they were.
Talarico was on Joe Rogan’s show recently, where he promoted a bunch of very Left-wing ideas that Rogan — who is not a Right-winger, possibly a heterodox person who voted for Donald Trump, but not traditionally conservative — started buying into. 
“My Democratic colleagues and I have just left our beloved state to break quorum and stop Trump&#8217;s redistricting power grab,” Talarico huffed, adding:
<blockquote>Trump told our Republican colleagues to redraw the political maps here in Texas in the middle of the decade to get him five more seats and protect his majority in Congress. They&#8217;re turning our districts into crazy shapes to guarantee the outcome they want in the 2026 elections. If this power grab succeeds, they will hang on to power without any accountability from the voters. But Texas Democrats are fighting back. We&#8217;re leaving the state, breaking quorum and preventing Republicans from silencing our voices and rigging the next election.</blockquote>
“We are not fighting for the Democratic Party,” he puffed. “We are fighting for the democratic process. And the stakes could not be higher. We have to take a stand.”
“We have to take a stand.” 
By running away.
That, assuredly, must be the only way to take a stand.
“Brave Sir Robin ran away — bravely.”
Run away? Yes. They are so brave.
I am loving every element of this tremendous bravery.
This demonstrates the extent to which Democrats are in real national trouble. They&#8217;re in trouble in states such as Texas.
California has already been basically gerrymandered to death by the Democrats, so this is nothing new. The Democrats are whimpering, “If you go after Texas, we might redistrict California.”
They already did it. How many more seats are they going to take away from Orange County? There&#8217;s not that much more they can do to gerrymander Republicans out of existence in places like California.
All of the posturing speaks to the desperation of Democrats; they have no national brand. Whatever national brand they might possibly have is quite negative.
So they run away.

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