Texas National Guard to return from Illinois ahead of Thanksgiving, Gov Abbott says
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Saturday that Texas National Guard troops will be returning home before Thanksgiving after their deployment to Illinois last month. The troops were sent to the state on October 7 to assist federal immigration agents amidst escalating protests against federal raids targeting illegal immigrants in cities like Chicago. The deployment, which Abbott authorized, aimed to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their facilities. However, the move sparked significant controversy, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemning it as an “invasion” and urging Abbott to withdraw the troops.
The situation has raised legal and constitutional questions, as it is uncommon for a governor to send National Guard troops to another state without that state’s governor’s invitation. Critics, particularly from the Democratic party, have argued that Abbott’s actions infringe upon state sovereignty and could be deemed unconstitutional. The deployment led to a legal battle that reached a federal court, which ruled that while the troops could not be activated for active duty, they could remain in Illinois. This ruling has since been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has yet to issue a decision. As a result of the legal constraints, the Texas National Guard performed limited duties, primarily securing their base at a U.S. Army Reserve training center, rather than engaging in the active operations initially planned.
The return of the Texas National Guard troops before Thanksgiving marks a significant shift in the ongoing discourse surrounding immigration enforcement and state rights. Abbott’s deployment was part of a broader strategy to bolster federal immigration efforts in response to what he described as a crisis. However, the backlash from Illinois officials and the legal complications underscore the complexities of inter-state military deployments and the contentious nature of immigration policy in the United States. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will address the legal challenges surrounding such deployments and what implications this will have for future actions by state governors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__phLAi2zUM
Texas Gov.
Greg Abbott
said Saturday that Texas National Guard troops will return home before Thanksgiving after they were deployed to Illinois last month to support federal immigration agents.
“They’ve already been ordered to return before Thanksgiving,” Abbott told Nexstar.
Hundreds of Texas National Guard troops were sent to Illinois on Oct. 7 after Abbott authorized their deployment to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and buildings amid protests against federal raids targeting illegal immigrants in Chicago and other Illinois cities.
PRITZKER SAYS TRUMP ORDERING 400 MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD TO ILLINOIS, OREGON AND OTHER LOCATIONS
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker blasted Abbott’s deployment, calling it an “invasion” and urging the Texas governor to withdraw the troops.
It is unusual for a governor to deploy the National Guard to another state without an invitation from that state’s governor. Democrat officials have argued that such a deployment is unconstitutional and violates state sovereignty.
A legal battle over the deployment of the
troops to Chicago
prompted a federal court to rule that the troops could not be activated, but could remain in the state.
The case was
appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court
, which has not yet issued its ruling.
TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS REMOVED FROM 60-DAY ILLINOIS DEPLOYMENT FOR FAILING ‘MISSION REQUIREMENTS’
Due to the court ruling, the Texas National Guard never performed active duties beyond securing their base at a U.S. Army Reserve training center.
