Approximately 75 Illinois National Guard service members are on state active duty assisting the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in providing humanitarian aid to asylum seekers across the Chicagoland area.
Governor JB Pritzker issued an emergency disaster proclamation on Sept. 14 and activated members of the Illinois Army National Guard's Chicago-based 108th Sustainment Brigade and Peoria-based 182nd Airlift Wing. The majority of the brigade’s Soldiers came from the North Riverside-based 3625th Classification and Inventory Company (CICO) and 1970th Quartermaster Co. The activation was to ensure all state resources are available to support asylum seekers arriving nearly daily to Chicago, the Governor said. More than 60 percent of the Soldiers and Airmen activated are Spanish speakers. The Governor's proclamation enables the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and other state agencies, in close coordination with the City of Chicago, Cook County, and other local governments, to ensure the individuals and families receive the assistance they need. This includes transport, emergency shelter and housing, food, health screenings, medical assessments, treatments, and other necessary care and services.