Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, left, criticized Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, right, for resisting his deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago. (Joshua Comins/Fox News Photo; Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
The state of Illinois, joined by the city of Chicago, also filed a lawsuit in federal court in an attempt to stop the deployment.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Abbott said that Pritzker’s actions are in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
"You may recall it wasn't too long ago that he put his left hand on a bible and raised his right hand and swore to God that he would support the Constitution of the United States. As opposed to supporting it and allowing federal officials to enforce federal law, he's violating the Constitution, violating the oath that he took by interfering with the ability of federal officials to conduct the executive branch of the federal government," said Abbott.
PRITZKER SUES TRUMP TO BLOCK NATIONAL GUARD ACTION IN ILLINOIS
Federal law enforcement agents confront demonstrators protesting outside an immigrant processing center on Saturday in Broadview, Illinois. One protester allegedly threatened to kill federal officers. (Getty Images)
He went on to say, "It is very important that the public understand that these federal officials, they have a requirement to enforce federal law. Anybody who interferes with that is interfering with the ability for federal officials to do their job."
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"What the National Guard is trained and skilled at doing is dealing with civil unrest like that," said Abbott. "Whenever the country is in times of need, Texans will step up and help out any way we possibly can."
Fox News Digital reached out to Pritzker's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch and Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pritzker-joke-texas-gov-abbott-mocks-sanctuary-governor-opposing-national-guard-troops