Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday said the Illinois National Guard has received word that the Department of Homeland Security is seeking the deployment of 100 military troops to Illinois.

The governor delivered the news surrounded by Mayor Brandon Johnson, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and other local leaders as he spoke out about border patrol agents patrolling downtown Chicago with guns.

Pritzker said the Illinois National Guard obtained a memo that DHS sent to the Defense Department which sought to request 100 military personnel for Illinois. It’s unclear what type of troops would be deployed or when.

Pritzker said the government is “claiming a need for the protection of ICE personnel and facilities” for the deployment.

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