President Donald Trump has given the go-ahead for 300 National Guard troops to be deployed to Chicago, citing concerns over what he describes as out-of-control crime in the city. This significant move comes just hours after federal immigration authorities reported a confrontation with protesters, during which an armed woman was shot after allegedly ramming her vehicle into law enforcement cars.
This deployment has drawn sharp criticism from state and local officials, many of whom are Democrats. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has publicly stated that the President is attempting to “manufacture a crisis” and criticized the decision as an abuse of power.
The deployment to Chicago follows similar actions in other cities, including Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Memphis, and Portland. Notably, a federal judge in Portland has already issued a temporary block on the administration’s plan to send 200 troops to that city, ruling that such deployments without state consent could undermine sovereignty and blur the lines between civilian and military authority.
The situation in Chicago has been marked by increasing protests targeting federal immigration facilities. The White House has defended the deployment, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stating that President Trump “will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.” The precise status of the troop deployment in Chicago remains unclear.