Elwood, IL – Residents across Will County and Chicago are reacting to the arrival of Texas National Guard troops at the U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Elwood, as local leaders confirm they were not briefed before the deployment. The move comes just one day after a federal judge declined to issue a restraining order blocking President Trump’s plan to send troops into Illinois.
The first small protest formed early Wednesday morning, when a lone New Lenox man stood outside the Joliet Local Training Area on 21610 W. Elwood Manhattan Road holding a sign calling for the troops to leave. Organizers say more demonstrators are expected as the base population grows and the deployment expands toward Chicago.
According to Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, county officials “received no information or coordination from the federal government about this deployment, including the scale of operations or the length of time” the troops will be stationed in Elwood. She called the move “an aggressive overreach,” adding that “our federal government moving armed troops into our community should be alarming to everyone.”
State Representative Larry Walsh Jr. (D-Elwood) also condemned the deployment, calling it “ineffective political theater” and urging Washington to focus instead on the rising cost of living, job market slowdowns, and energy grid issues. “Armed troops on any street in America should be a crimson flag for any and every patriot,” Walsh said.
Despite legal challenges from the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois, National Guard units from Texas are reportedly en route to Illinois and could be deployed in Chicago as soon as Thursday or Friday. Local and state officials are continuing to seek what was described as “federal clarification” while urging residents to remain calm and avoid confrontation near the Elwood facility.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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