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2 ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SPEAK OUT: “I WON’T TURN
AGAINST MY NEIGHBORS”  
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Nicole Sganga
October 28, 2025
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_ "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." _

National Guard members Dylan Blaha, left, and Demi Palecek attend a
protest outside the ICE detention facility in Broadview, Bob
Chiarito/For the Sun-Times

 

_Chicago_ — Two Illinois National Guard members told CBS News they
would refuse to obey federal orders
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to deploy in Chicago as part of President Trump's controversial
immigration enforcement mission — a rare act of open defiance from
within the military ranks.

"It's disheartening to be forced to go against your community members
and your neighbors," said Staff Sgt. Demi Palecek, a Latina
guardswoman and state legislative candidate from Illinois's 13th
District. "It feels illegal. This is not what we signed up to do."

Both Palecek and Capt. Dylan Blaha, who is running for Congress in the
same district, described growing unease among Guard members after the
White House federalized 500 troops – including members of the
Illinois and Texas National Guard – to secure federal immigration
facilities and personnel in the Chicago area.

"I signed up to defend the American people and protect the
Constitution," Blaha said. "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."

[img-1287.jpg ]

ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD CAPT. DYLAN BLAHA. LEFT.  PHOTO PROVIDED BY
DYLAN BLAHA

Refusing a lawful federal order while serving in the National Guard
can sometimes result in court-martial, imprisonment, or a felony-level
discharge, depending on who issued the order, whether the soldier is
under state or federal control and the nature of the disobedience.
When contacted by CBS News, the Defense Department declined comment.

PALECEK SAYS MEMBERS OF MILITARY ARE "BEING USED AS PAWNS"

Asked if she would refuse a direct order to deploy to Chicago, Palecek
didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. I would definitely say no," she said.
"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."

"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?"

A federal judge on Wednesday delayed
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the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago indefinitely, until a
final ruling is issued or the Supreme Court rules on the matter. 

[img-6076.jpg ]

STAFF SGT. DEMI PALECEK, ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD, CENTER.  PHOTO
PROVIDED BY DEMI PALACEK

The two guardsmen accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the
military against civilians under the guise of public safety. "They're
definitely being used as pawns," Palecek said. 

Blaha agreed, saying most Guard units "train to fight and win our
nation's wars," and they do not assist law enforcement or Immigration
and Customs Enforcement. "We're not trained to assist ICE and help
them just be violent in our communities," he said, calling it
"shameful."

The pair noted that Guard members currently mobilized in Illinois are
on 29-day orders — too short to qualify for full benefits. "They're
not even getting paid right now because of the government shutdown,"
Blaha added. "Most don't want to be there. They're scared, too."

Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, a spokesperson for the Illinois National Guard
later clarified that "the approximately 300 Illinois Army National
Guard Soldiers who were federalized in Illinois are on initial 60-day
orders," allowing those service members to be eligible for health
coverage as well as additional allowances to offset the cost of meals
and housing. 

FEARS FOR IMMIGRANT SERVICE MEMBERS

Roughly 200 green card holders serve in the Illinois National Guard
– with 160 legal permanent residents in the state's Army National
Guard and 30 in the state's Air National Guard. 

"They're in sheer panic," Palecek said. "They're choosing between
standing up for their community or losing everything — their legal
status, their path to citizenship."

U.S. federal law generally prohibits undocumented immigrants from
enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army National Guard
and Air National Guard. But for green card holders, military service
can help expedite U.S. citizenship under longstanding federal
programs.

Programs like Parole in Place exist to protect family members of
service members from deportation and help them adjust status, but
participants say applications have been slowed or outright denied in
recent months, leaving families in legal limbo.

"I applied for parole in place," Palecek told CBS News. "And [my
application] has not been able to go through."

"Everyone says, 'Why don't they do it the right way?'" Palecek
continued, offering a sentiment often voiced by those condemning
illegal immigration. "But they are doing it the right way," Palecek
said.

RETRIBUTION IN THEIR RANKS

Both Blaha and Palecek said they've faced retaliation for speaking
publicly. Blaha disclosed that his security clearance was suspended by
the Defense Department after posting a viral video urging soldiers to
disobey unlawful orders. "They twisted my words," he said. "I have
about 30 days in order to provide them with a written response."

Retribution, Palecek added, is "real." She's received death threats
since denouncing the deployments and launching her political campaign.
"It weighs on you mentally after a while," she said.

Still, both say silence is not an option. "We were trained to stand up
for what we believe in and stand up for the American people," Blaha
said.

"TODAY IT'S CHICAGO. TOMORROW IT COULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE."

Palecek, who once served in active duty, said the current mission has
made her ashamed of her uniform. "I've been truly proud of what I've
been able to do in the military," she said. "And right now I hate
saying I'm in the military. It's embarrassing."

Both see a dangerous precedent in deploying federal troops to U.S.
cities. "It's a slow normalization of using the military in American
cities," Blaha said. "If he declares martial law enough times, people
will start to think it's OK."

A majority of Americans oppose Mr. Trump's deployment of the National
Guard to U.S. cities as part of his crime crackdown, according to a
September CBS News poll
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But still, roughly 42% of Americans polled expressed support for
sending members of the National Guard to cities nationwide. 

A CBS News analysis
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of FBI and Chicago Police Department data from 2024 found Chicago's
violent crime is down double-digit percentage points so far in 2025
compared to 2024. Among American cities with populations of 100,000 or
more, Chicago ranks 80th overall for violent crime per capita.

When asked to describe what America looks like with a federalized
National Guard presence nationwide, Blaha replied: "Unsafe." Palecek
offered: "Disgusting."

"They're coming after communities that have built this country,"
Palecek added. "To be used against my culture, my community, my
neighbors — that's vile and disgusting to me."

The two soldiers say they're speaking out to warn the rest of the
country. "Today it's Chicago. Tomorrow it could be somewhere else,"
Blaha said. "We need to combat the misinformation and stand up to
Donald Trump. Crime is down. This is not about safety — it's about
control."

_Nicole Sganga is CBS News' homeland security and justice
correspondent. She is based in Washington, D.C., and reports for all
shows and platforms._

 

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