Duckworth Statement on Texas National Guard Deployment to Illinois

Duckworth Statement on Texas National Guard Deployment to Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the Texas National Guard preparing to deploy to Illinois:

"After federalizing the Illinois National Guard against our state's wishes over the weekend, Donald Trump is stretching the limits of Presidential authority even further past their breaking point by deploying the Texas National Guard to intimidate Illinoisans in our own communities. Our leaders have not called for this. Our state does not need this. Our National Guardsmen and women did not sign up to police their own neighbors or to be used as political pawns.

"This is a gross overreach and an egregious abuse of power that pits one sovereign State of our Union against another-just so Trump can consolidate his own power at the expense of our constitutional rights. It's another unwarranted, unwanted and unconstitutional move from Trump as he continues to abuse our military, attack our cities and intimidate Americans.

"I join Governor Pritzker in calling on Governor Abbott to withdraw his support and refuse to coordinate as Trump pushes us closer to authoritarianism. This is not something that should happen in the United States of America."

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