why did texas invade illinois

Texas did not literally "invade" Illinois in a military sense, but the Texas National Guard was deployed to Illinois to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts, a move ordered by President Donald Trump and authorized by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. This deployment involved about 400 Texas National Guard troops sent to Chicago and other locations to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and protect federal property amid aggressive immigration raids in the city. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, strongly opposed this deployment, calling it an "invasion" and criticizing the move as a federal overreach and an abuse of power since it involved sending troops from one state to another without the consent or cooperation of the Illinois state government. Critics argue this is part of a broader political and law enforcement strategy by the Trump administration targeting cities governed by Democrats, especially regarding immigration enforcement and civil order issues. Texas Governor Abbott defended the deployment, stating it was meant to protect federal officials and enforce federal laws. The situation has led to significant controversy and is seen by many as a politically charged escalation reminiscent of past American internal conflicts, though it is limited to federal law enforcement support rather than actual warfare between states.