This Presidential Memorandum directs the Secretary of War to call at least 300 members of the Illinois National Guard into Federal service for a 60-day period to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Federal Protective Service (FPS) personnel and federal property in Illinois, particularly in and around Chicago, due to violent obstruction by groups attempting to disrupt federal law enforcement activities.
The action invokes constitutional and statutory authority (10 U.S.C. 12406) based on the determination that regular federal forces are insufficient to enforce the laws amidst increasing violent interference and credible threats of future incidents.
The Secretary of War is tasked with coordinating the mobilization with the Governor of Illinois and may authorize necessary protective activities to ensure that Federal law is executed.
Arguments For
The action is necessary to ensure the faithful execution of Federal law, which is being impeded by violent groups operating against federal agencies like ICE and FPS.
Precedent exists for federal mobilization of the National Guard in other states (Oregon) and in Illinois itself when similar circumstances of violence and interference arose.
The authority cited (10 U.S.C. 12406) provides the legal basis for calling National Guard members into Federal service when regular forces are deemed insufficient to execute U.S. laws.
The deployment is temporary (60 days) and contingent upon the Governor of Illinois consenting to a federally-funded mobilization under Title 32 of the U.S. Code, suggesting a limited federal intervention.
Arguments Against
Deploying federalized National Guard forces to suppress activities potentially involving local political disputes raises concerns about the overreach of federal authority into state matters.
The action bypasses the typical process where the Governor would voluntarily mobilize the National Guard under State control, setting a precedent for federal mandate over state guard units for domestic security.
Using federal service (Title 10) instead of a federally-funded Title 32 mobilization, pending gubernatorial consent, could be seen as a premature escalation of force against demonstrators.
The memorandum targets specific federal operations (deportation and removal of criminal aliens), which critics might argue are matters of policy best resolved through legislative or administrative means rather than military deployment.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF WAR
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBJECT: Department of War Security for the Protection of Federal Personnel and Property in Illinois
This section identifies the recipients of the memorandum: the Secretary of War, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The subject line clearly states the purpose of the document: establishing Department of War security measures to protect federal personnel and property specifically within the state of Illinois.
The situation in the State of Illinois, particularly in and around the city of Chicago, cannot continue. Federal facilities in Illinois, including those directly supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Protective Services (FPS), have come under coordinated assault by violent groups intent on obstructing Federal law enforcement activities. These groups have sought to impede the deportation and removal of criminal aliens through violent demonstrations, intimidation, and sabotage of Federal operations. These violent activities appear to be increasing, and the situation in the State of Illinois, particularly in and around the city of Chicago, cannot continue.
This paragraph outlines the justification for the action, focusing on escalating violence in Illinois, especially Chicago, targeting federal assets.
Federal facilities supporting ICE and FPS are described as facing coordinated assaults from groups attempting to stop the deportation and removal of undocumented individuals who have committed crimes.
The President asserts that the current pattern of violent interference, intimidation, and sabotage must cease.
These activities are not occurring in isolation. Instead, these activities are similar to other ongoing efforts in multiple States and cities around the country to disrupt the faithful enforcement of Federal law. On June 7, 2025, I determined that similar activities warranted the mobilization of the National Guard. Likewise, at the end of September, I directed the Secretary of War to mobilize the National Guard due to ongoing violence and interference with Federal law enforcement in Oregon.
The memorandum contextualizes the Illinois situation by comparing it to similar disruptions happening nationally against federal law enforcement efforts.
It cites previous, parallel actions taken by the President, including mobilizing the National Guard on June 7, 2025, for similar reasons, and another directive in September to mobilize the Guard in Oregon due to violence and interference.
In those prior directives and in this instance, I have determined that these incidents, as well as the credible threat of continued violence, impede the execution of the laws of the United States. I have further determined that the regular forces of the United States are not sufficient to ensure the laws of the United States are faithfully executed, including in Chicago.
This paragraph declares the President's formal finding that the violence and the continuing threat of violence prevent the United States laws from being carried out effectively.
Based on this finding, the President concludes that the standard active-duty military forces are inadequate to compel adherence to federal law within Chicago and the rest of Illinois.
In light of both past incidents in Chicago and the credible threat of future incidents, and in light of my determinations, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 10 U.S.C. 12406, I hereby call into Federal service at least 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, until the Governor of Illinois consents to a federally-funded mobilization, under Title 32 of the United States Code, of the Illinois National Guard under State control. The members of the Illinois National Guard called into Federal service shall protect ICE, FPS, and other United States Government personnel who are executing Federal law in the State of Illinois, and Federal property in the State of Illinois. They shall do so at any locations at which violent demonstrations prevent the execution of Federal law or are likely to prevent the execution of Federal law based on current threat assessments and planned operations. The duration of such Federal service shall be 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of War. Further, I direct and delegate actions as necessary for the Secretary of War to coordinate with the Governor of the State of Illinois and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau in identifying and ordering into Federal service the appropriate members and units of the Illinois National Guard under this authority.
Citing constitutional powers and 10 U.S.C. 12406, the President orders at least 300 Illinois National Guard members into Federal service to protect federal personnel (ICE, FPS) and property.
This initial federal activation lasts until the Governor agrees to a federally-funded mobilization of the Guard under Title 32, which keeps the Guard under State command but federally paid.
The Guard members must operate wherever violent demonstrations obstruct federal law enforcement, and the deployment is set for a duration of 60 days, unless the Secretary of War decides otherwise. The Secretary of War is directed to coordinate this personnel identification and ordering process with both the Governor of Illinois and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
To carry out this mission, the deployed National Guard personnel may perform those protective activities that the Secretary of War determines are reasonably necessary to ensure the execution of Federal law in Illinois, and to protect Federal property in Illinois. Following the deployment of any National Guard personnel to any location in Illinois, the Secretary of War shall consult with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security prior to withdrawing the personnel from such location. The Secretary of War and the Secretary of Homeland Security may delegate to subordinate officials of their respective Departments any of the authorities conferred upon them by this memorandum.
The Secretary of War has the authority to define the specific protective duties the mobilized National Guard personnel can undertake, provided those actions are deemed reasonably necessary for executing federal law and safeguarding federal assets in Illinois.
Before any deployed National Guard personnel are removed from a location, the Secretary of War must consult with both the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Finally, the memorandum allows the Secretary of War and the Secretary of Homeland Security to delegate any authorities granted to them by this document to lower-ranking officials within their departments.
DONALD J. TRUMP
This concluding line shows the signatory, Donald J. Trump, who issued the directive.
It formally authenticates the Presidential Memorandum.
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