Texas National Guard troops arrive in Illinois
President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard into several US cities has prompted legal challenges by state and local officials.
Washington (dpa) - Soldiers from the Texas National Guard have arrived in the US state of Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker said on Tuesday, though they have not been seen on the streets.
He said the state had received no information from the federal government.
US media reported that the troops were spotted at a military facility in Elwood, about 90 kilometres from downtown Chicago. Late Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a photo on X showing National Guard members boarding a plane, captioned: "Ever ready. Deploying now."
Illinois and the city of Chicago are seeking to block the deployment in court, but so far have not succeeded. The presiding judge is expected to consider a temporary restraining order no earlier than Thursday, US media reported.
The Trump administration ordered around 300 Illinois National Guard soldiers to federal service to protect federal officials and property. Pritzker recently said US President Donald Trump also mobilized 400 National Guard troops from Republican-led Texas for deployment in Illinois, Oregon and other regions.
Trump has sought to use the military reserve unit in several Democratic-led cities, citing rising crime and protests against US immigration raids. Multiple states and cities have challenged the move in court, arguing it violates their sovereignty and sets a dangerous precedent for the use of domestic military pressure.
In the United States, state governors usually command their National Guard units. Only in wartime or national emergencies can the president assume control. Otherwise, the Guard can be deployed domestically for natural disasters, unrest, or other emergencies.