In a controversial move, hundreds of National Guard troops from Texas have been stationed at an Army Reserve Training Center near Chicago, as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts. Trump has labeled Chicago a ‘war zone’ following recent protests against federal immigration officials in the city, which ranks as the third-largest in the U.S. The deployment has sparked significant opposition from local leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who criticized the Trump administration for what he called an ‘authoritarian march’ and vowed to use all available resources to halt the initiative. Sources from CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner, indicate that some troops could begin their duties as early as Wednesday. Temporary living quarters have been established at the training center, located approximately 50 miles southwest of Chicago, with fencing erected around the facility late Tuesday. Local officials have expressed frustration over the lack of detailed information regarding the troops’ assignments. Trump has defended the deployment as necessary to address violence in Democratic-controlled cities, combat crime, and support his deportation policies. However, National Guard troops have limited authority and are primarily tasked with protecting federal officers and property, rather than enforcing laws or making arrests. This deployment follows similar actions in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Memphis, and Portland, though a federal judge temporarily blocked the Portland deployment. Chicago has witnessed a surge in protests against immigration enforcement, particularly outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Last weekend, a woman was injured when U.S. Border Patrol personnel fired shots after a group rammed cars into immigration enforcement vehicles, though her lawyer disputes the government’s account. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in a lawsuit filed by Illinois and Chicago, seeking to prevent the federalization of National Guard troops from Texas and Illinois. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the deployment as ‘illegal, unconstitutional, and dangerous,’ and signed an executive order banning ICE agents from operating on city-owned properties. The situation raises significant legal and constitutional questions, as National Guard troops are typically deployed by state governors, and century-old laws restrict the federal government’s use of the military for domestic matters. Trump has hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, which allows the president to use active-duty military personnel for law enforcement within the country, if federal courts obstruct his plans. In the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump emphasized his determination to act if state governors fail to maintain order.