National Guard soldiers are stationed outside Chicago and are expected to arrive in Memphis by Friday as the Trump administration continues its robust approach to combatting urban crime, regardless of local authorities’ stance on the matter.
Members of the National Guard from Texas have taken up residence at an Army Reserve center in Illinois, despite facing opposition from Democratic officials. While their specific assignment remains unclear, the Trump administration has been actively engaged in immigration enforcement in Chicago, where protestors have frequently gathered outside an immigration facility in Broadview.
President Trump has criticized Chicago as a crime-ridden city, although official police data shows significant reductions in various offenses, including homicides.
In Memphis, Tennessee, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis confirmed that a small group of commanders are already in the city, making preparations for the impending arrival of National Guard troops.
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee has stated that the troops will be deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service to provide crucial support to local law enforcement, although the exact nature of their role has yet to be defined.
The Trump administration’s efforts to deploy the military against local objections have sparked disputes with governors of blue states. Illinois and Chicago have sought legal intervention to halt what they describe as Trump’s “War” on the state. A court hearing on their lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday, following a similar successful effort in Oregon where a judge blocked the deployment of guard troops to Portland.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker anticipates the activation of National Guard troops from his state and 400 troops from Texas. He has accused Trump of using the troops as political tools and criticized the lack of communication from Washington regarding their deployment.
Military personnel wearing the Texas National Guard patch were observed at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, southwest of Chicago. The area saw the arrival of emergency supplies, including portable toilets and fencing, indicating preparations for an extended presence.
The Posse Comitatus Act, established nearly 150 years ago, restricts the military’s involvement in domestic law enforcement. However, President Trump has expressed willingness to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows for the deployment of active-duty military personnel in states facing insurrection or defiance of federal laws.
Flight restrictions have been imposed over the army reserve center by the Federal Aviation Administration until December 6 for security reasons.
In light of an ongoing immigration crackdown, armed Border Patrol agents have been making arrests near prominent landmarks, raising concerns within immigrant-heavy and predominantly Latino communities. Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order prohibiting federal immigration agents from using city-owned properties for enforcement activities.
Since the beginning of his second term, President Trump has either deployed or proposed sending troops to ten cities, including Baltimore, the District of Columbia, New Orleans, and various cities in California. Despite a general decline in violent crimes nationwide, cities like Chicago and Portland have reported reductions in homicides.
Protests at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland have persisted, with sporadic clashes and a riot declaration in June. An appeal is scheduled for Thursday regarding the government’s attempts to deploy the Guard in Portland.
The Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has reiterated that there is no insurrection in the state to warrant the deployment of additional security forces. The Portland police chief emphasized the need for closer collaboration with federal agents to enhance security at the ICE facility.
In response to security concerns, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Portland’s Mayor Keith Wilson of potential reinforcement by federal officers if local law enforcement fails to enhance security measures at the ICE building.
A federal judge previously ruled that the administration violated federal law by deploying Guard troops to Los Angeles in defiance of protests against immigration raids.