Illinois National Guard Captain Dylan Blaha expressed his surprise at being called upon to confront his fellow citizens within his state. Typically, National Guard members are deployed domestically to assist in responding to natural disasters or serve as reserve forces for the U.S. military. However, President Donald Trump has issued orders for troops to be deployed in Democratic-led cities to suppress protests against immigration enforcement measures, including a recent directive for Chicago.
Captain Blaha, who is also running as a Democratic candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 13th district, stated that he never anticipated being deployed against his neighbors and community. The deployment in Chicago is currently pending a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on its legality. Despite this, Captain Blaha has vowed to refuse the order, a sentiment shared by Staff Sergeant Demi Palecek, also a Democratic state legislative candidate in the same district.
Sergeant Palecek, of Mexican heritage, views Trump’s immigration policies as a source of terror for her community. She highlighted that law-abiding immigrants are being targeted in ICE raids, with a significant percentage having no criminal convictions. Palecek is actively engaged in community support efforts, such as distributing candy to children who fear leaving their homes due to the current climate of fear.
President Trump’s administration justifies the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago due to what they describe as violent protests by individuals opposing immigration enforcement. However, Sergeant Palecek, an anti-ICE protest organizer, disputes this characterization, emphasizing the peaceful nature of the demonstrations.
Trump has recently mentioned the possibility of deploying additional military personnel to U.S. cities beyond the National Guard if required. He also hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act to utilize active-duty troops for policing purposes, bypassing limitations on deploying Guard troops.
Both Captain Blaha and Sergeant Palecek risk facing consequences for refusing to comply with federal orders, including potential court-martials or imprisonment. Despite these risks, they maintain their stance that disobeying unlawful orders is a soldier’s duty. They believe their actions align with the right side of history and are committed to standing up for what they believe is just and right.