“Not What We Signed Up To Do”: National Guard Troops Vow To Defy Chicago Deployment Order

Two members of the Illinois National Guard have vowed to disobey President Donald Trump if he succeeds in deploying them to Chicago.

Staff Sgt. Demi Palecek and Capt. Dylan Blaha both told CBS News of growing unease among Guard members over Trump’s federalization of troops.

Trump has so far deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Memphis.

In addition to specific city deployments, the administration mobilized up to 1,700 National Guard troops across 19 states to support immigration-enforcement operations.

“It's disheartening to be forced to go against your community members and your neighbors,” Palecek, a candidate for state legislature, said.

“It feels illegal. This is not what we signed up to do.”

Blaha, who is running for Congress in the same district, shared those concerns and told the broadcaster he “signed up to defend the American people and protect the Constitution,” but noted that role was difficult under the Trump administration.

“When we have somebody in power who's actively dismantling our rights—free speech, due process, freedom of the press—it's really hard to be a soldier right now,” Blaha said.

Last week, U.S. District Judge April Perry extended a temporary restraining order blocking National Guard troops from deploying in the Chicago area indefinitely.

If the Supreme Court intervenes and rules against that order, like the Trump administration is hoping, Blaha and Palecek could find themselves in legal trouble for refusing federal orders.

Imprisonment, a felony-level discharge, and facing a court-martial are all possibilities, depending on the circumstances of the refusal.

But despite the potential consequences, both Blaha and Palecek are resolute in their decision to openly defy an order to deploy in Chicago.

“I would definitely say no,” Palecek, a Latina guardswoman, told CBS. “I'm not going to go against my community members, my family and my culture.

“I believe this is the time to be on the right side of history.”

Blaha pointed to the Gestapo, the official secret police of Nazi Germany, and questioned opposition to the infamous force.

“Look at 1930s, 1940s Germany,” Blaha said. “There is a point where if you didn’t stand up to the Gestapo, are you just actively one of them now?”

They further criticized how Trump is using troops to support immigration enforcement and quell anti-ICE protests, and accused the administration of weaponizing the military.

Both have faced retaliation for speaking publicly about their concerns.

Blaha told CBS that after he posted a video urging service members to defy unlawful orders, the Department of War revoked his security clearance.

“They twisted my words,” he said. “I have about 30 days in order to provide them with a written response.”

Palecek has been targeted with death threats after speaking out against National Guard deployment and launching her state legislative run.

Still, neither feels they can remain silent. "We were trained to stand up for what we believe in and stand up for the American people,” Blaha said.

He added: "We need to combat the misinformation and stand up to Donald Trump. Crime is down. This is not about safety—it's about control.”

The Trump administration contends that National Guard troops must be deployed to Chicago to help protect federal agents and property.

Trump has also characterized crime in Chicago as being out of control, despite official figures from the Chicago Police Department showing violent crime is down about 23% in 2025 compared with 2024.

In the first six months of this year, Chicago has also seen a 33% reduction in homicides and a 38% reduction in shootings.

Trump’s claims have been slammed by local leadership, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker describing the potential deployment as federal overreach.

“This effort to deploy troops in American cities is not normal,” Pritzker said earlier this month. “There is no rational justification for such a deployment.

“It is a breach of the most fundamental values and customs that our armed forces operate on. That is why there is such little precedent in our history for federalizing and deploying National Guard troops and other military onto American streets.

“Other presidents have used this power incredibly sparingly,” he added.