(Substack)—President Trump has ordered the deployment of 400 Texas National Guard troops to Illinois and other states gripped by escalating anti-ICE protests. This move comes as federal agents face ongoing attacks in Chicago, where demonstrators have turned violent in opposition to immigration enforcement operations.
The unrest kicked off before last month’s start of Operation Midway Blitz, a targeted crackdown on criminal illegal immigrants who have exploited Illinois’ sanctuary policies for cover. Protesters have ramped up their tactics, using vehicles to ram ICE agents in at least two incidents this week alone.
On Saturday, Border Patrol agents on Chicago’s South Side fired on and wounded an armed woman after a mob ambushed them, roughly 15 miles from the ICE processing center in Broadview that’s become a flashpoint for the chaos. More than a dozen arrests have followed near the facility since Friday.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who flew into Illinois on Friday, didn’t mince words during her appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” labeling Chicago a “war zone.” She pointed out how local officials are even barring federal law enforcement from using public restrooms in the city, recounting her own experience of being turned away from a Broadview government building when she asked to use one.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wasted no time blasting the president’s decision. “We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” he posted on X, urging Americans to push back. He went further, declaring, “It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will not involve sending in another state’s military troops. I call on [Texas] Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.”
Pritzker accused Trump of treating the National Guard like “political props” and insisted, “There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, however, stood firm in backing the deployment. “You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,” he said, adding that the Texas National Guard “defend our country with pride.”
Abbott’s authorization underscores the willingness of red states to step up when blue-state policies foster disorder that spills over into threats against federal personnel.
Meanwhile, a federal judge late Sunday blocked any National Guard deployments to Oregon, extending an earlier injunction after challenges from that state and California. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield vowed his state “will absolutely not be a party to the president’s attempt to normalise the use of the United States military in our American cities.”
Trump has framed these actions as essential to combat the “enemy from within … before it gets out of control,” a nod to the internal threats posed by unchecked illegal immigration and the violence it attracts. With similar deployments already underway, the administration shows no signs of backing down from restoring order where local leaders have failed.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.