Between Oath and Conscience - Soldiers Against the President

Chicago - In a country that loves to celebrate its soldiers as heroes, dissent is an act of courage. Two former members of the Illinois National Guard have now crossed that line - and publicly declared that they would defy Donald Trump’s orders. They do not want to be part of an operation that drives the president ever deeper into the use of the military against his own people. Both, who served in the National Guard for years, are now speaking openly about their conscience - even after leaving the service.

"It is disheartening to be forced to go against your own neighbors," says Staff Sergeant Demi Palecek, a Latina and candidate for the Illinois 13th District House seat. "It feels illegal. This is not what we signed up to do."

Palecek and her comrade, Captain Dylan Blaha, also a candidate for the same district, are not agitators or outsiders. Both have served, both know the rules of the system, and yet they have decided not to remain silent. Their voices represent a growing unease within the National Guard ranks since the White House federalized 500 soldiers - including units from Illinois and Texas - to secure so-called "immigration facilities" in Chicago. Blaha captures the moral conflict clearly: "I swore to defend the American people and protect the Constitution. But when someone in power is actively dismantling our rights - free speech, due process, freedom of the press - it’s damn hard to be a soldier today."

Their decision has consequences. Refusing a lawful order under federal command carries heavy risks in the United States - from dishonorable discharge to imprisonment. Yet Palecek does not hesitate: "Absolutely. I would say no. I will not go against my family, my culture, my community. Now is the time to be on the right side of history." Blaha draws historical parallels that sound frighteningly relevant in today’s America: "Look at 1930s and 40s Germany. There comes a point when silence becomes complicity."

A federal judge has temporarily halted the planned deployment of the National Guard in Chicago - a brief reprieve in a country increasingly accustomed to a permanent state of emergency. But Palecek and Blaha know the pressure remains. Both accuse the Trump administration of using the military as a domestic political tool. "We’re being used as pawns," says Palecek. Blaha adds: "We’re trained to fight wars - not to assist ICE in spreading violence in our cities. It’s shameful."

Added to this are material humiliations: many soldiers are on duty for only 29 days - too short to qualify for full pay or medical benefits. "They’re not even getting paid," says Blaha. "Most don’t want to be there. They’re scared." The Illinois National Guard later corrected that the orders had been extended to 60 days. But the uncertainty remains. Especially for the roughly 200 Guard members who are not U.S. citizens but serve on green cards. For them, every wrong step, every word against the president, could mean losing their legal status.

"They’re in panic," says Palecek. "They have to choose between their community and their future in this country." Programs like "Parole in Place," designed to protect family members of service members from deportation, have been frozen or denied. Palecek’s own application remains unprocessed. "And then they say, ‘Why don’t they do it the right way?’ - But that’s exactly what they’re doing," she says bitterly. Speaking out has consequences. Blaha temporarily lost his security clearance after posting a video urging soldiers to refuse unlawful orders. "They twisted my words," he says. "I have 30 days to submit a written response."

Palecek too became a target. Death threats, harassment, intimidation. "After a while, it eats away at you," she says quietly. "But silence is not an option." Blaha nods. "We were trained to stand up for what we believe in and to fight for the American people." Palecek, once proud of her uniform, now feels shame. "I’ve always been proud of what I’ve done in the military. But right now, I hate saying I’m in the military. It’s embarrassing." Both warn of a dangerous normalization. "It’s the slow acceptance of using the military in American cities," says Blaha. "If he declares martial law often enough, people will start thinking it’s normal."

A majority of Americans oppose Trump’s use of the National Guard in cities. But 42 percent support it - a divide running through the entire country, fueled in large part by Trump’s disinformation campaigns. And while the government plays with words like "security," data from Chicago tell another story: violent crime has dropped double digits in 2025. Among U.S. cities, Chicago ranks only 80th in per capita crime. For Blaha, the conclusion is clear: "This isn’t about safety. It’s about control."

Palecek says: "They’re coming after the communities that built this country. To be used against my culture, my community, my neighbors - that’s vile and disgusting to me." Her warning is clear, almost prophetic: "Today it’s Chicago. Tomorrow it could be anywhere." And so they stand - two soldiers who refuse to obey blindly. Their oath was to the Constitution, not to a man. Their loyalty lies with the people, not with power. In a time when conscience has become the exception, they defend what little remains of it - in uniform.