Texas National Guard Deployed to Chicago Amid Controversy

The Texas National Guard has been deployed to Chicago — a move authorized by the Trump administration with cooperation from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The order sends 200 Texas troops to the windy city with the stated purpose of protecting federal property, including ICE facilities.

This controversial operation, set to last 60 days, comes over objections from Illinois officials, who argue the deployment violates state sovereignty and exceeds federal authority.

What is the National Guard?

The National Guard is a reserve of the U.S. military that serves both state and the federal governments.

In peacetime, most guard units are under the command of their state or territory’s governor, but the president can federalize them during national emergencies or wartime.

The guard is made up of two branches, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, and operates under a dual mission structure, performing both domestic and overseas duties. More than 430,000 soldiers and airmen serve in the force.

Domestically, guard members respond to natural disasters, civil unrest, and other emergencies, while federally, they can be deployed abroad to support active-duty forces. Guard members typically serve part-time, balancing civilian jobs or education with monthly training and periodic active service.

The organization traces its roots to colonial militias formed in the 1600s, making it one of the oldest military institutions in the United States.

Today, there are 54 National Guard organizations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, coordinated nationally by the National Guard Bureau under the Department of Defense.

The chief of the National Guard Bureau is a four-star general and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus of the Air Force currently holds the position.

What is the Texas National Guard?

The Texas National Guard is the state’s component of the U.S. National Guard system and is part of the broader Texas Military Forces, which also includes the Texas State Guard. Under the command of the Texas governor, it can be activated for state missions such as disaster response, civil emergencies and border security, while also being subject to federal mobilization by the president.

The Texas National Guard is the largest of the state guard organizations, with 19,000 soldiers and airmen.

The history of the Texas National Guard traces back to early militias of the Republic of Texas and later volunteer units. Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Texas militia and volunteer guard units frequently responded to labor conflicts, civil unrest and border tensions with Mexico.

In 1916, Texas militia units were federalized under the National Defense Act, forming part of the newly standardized National Guard system. During World War I, these troops became part of the 36th Infantry Division that served overseas. After World War II, the Texas Guard expanded and reorganized.

In modern times, the Texas National Guard fulfills a variety of roles. The Texas Army National Guard assists with disaster relief, state emergencies, security support, and border missions. The Texas Air National Guard supports state and federal missions like disaster relief, search and rescue and vital infrastructure protection.

One prominent recent mission was Operation Lone Star, in which thousands of guard members have been activated by the governor to assist state and federal law enforcement along the Texas–Mexico border to deter illegal crossings and interdict transnational criminal activity.

Have federalized guard troops been sent on domestic missions before?

The National Guard has been federally mobilized multiple times for domestic missions.

They were used five times throughout the 50s and 60s to support desegregation and civil rights efforts. Notably, they were deployed to Little Rock, Ark. in 1957 and 1958 to help desegregate schools. And in 1965 they were sent to protect civil rights protestors marching from Selma, Ala. to the state capital, Montgomery.

They have also been deployed three times to quell civil unrest, like in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots sparked by the acquittal of police officers who beat Rodney King, a Black man, in the street.

In 1970, more than 200,000 postal workers walked off the job in the first nationwide Postal Service strike, prompting President Richard Nixon to declare a national emergency and deploy as many as 25,000 National Guard troops to New York to keep mail operations running.

And in 1989, the guard was sent to the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Hugo devastated the territory. President George H. W. Bush federalized the guard to restore order and aid recovery.