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President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago, citing concerns over what he describes as escalating crime rates.
The decision follows reports of a confrontation between immigration authorities and protesters in the city, which is governed by Democratic leadership. Officials stated that an “armed woman” was shot after she and others allegedly rammed law enforcement vehicles with their own.
State and local officials have voiced strong opposition to the President’s deployment plans, characterizing them as an overreach of federal power. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has accused the Trump administration of “attempting to manufacture a crisis.”
This announcement coincides with a federal judge in Portland, Oregon, temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s plan to deploy 200 troops to that city.
According to a statement from Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin, “Agents were unable to move their vehicles and exited the car. One of the drivers who rammed the law enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic weapon.”
“Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed US citizen,” she added.
Judge Karin Immergut described President Trump’s statements regarding conditions in Portland as “untethered to the facts,” and asserted that the deployment violated constitutional principles.
She argued that deploying the military to quell unrest without the consent of the state of Oregon risked infringing upon state sovereignty, exacerbating tensions within the city, and inciting further protests.
Judge Immergut further stated that the administration’s justification for the deployment “risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power – to the detriment of this nation”.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek welcomed the court’s decision and expressed hope that President Trump would respect the order and halt the deployment.
“There is no insurrection in Portland, no threat to national security,” she asserted in a statement. “The only threat we face is to our Democracy – and that threat is being led by President Trump.”
The Trump administration has indicated its intention to appeal the judge’s ruling. The president reiterated his criticism of Oregon’s leadership on Saturday, stating that his administration was reviewing the order.
“The place is burning down, and they pretend like there’s nothing happening,” President Trump told reporters.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that President Trump had ordered 300 National Guard troops stationed in California to deploy to Oregon following the judge’s order. Newsom indicated his intention to file a lawsuit challenging the move.
In Chicago, it remains unclear whether any troops have arrived, although any such deployment is anticipated to face legal challenges.
Chicago joins a list of cities, many under Democratic leadership, that have been targeted for controversial troop deployments, including Washington, Los Angeles, Memphis, and Portland.
These deployments have raised complex legal and constitutional questions, as National Guard troops are typically deployed by a state’s governor, and century-old laws limit the government’s use of the military for domestic matters.
Chicago has experienced an increase in protests related to immigration enforcement, many of which have taken place outside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.
“Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like [Gov] Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said. “President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”
On Saturday, prior to President Trump’s authorization of troops, US Border Patrol personnel shot a woman in Chicago following an incident in which a group of individuals allegedly rammed cars into immigration enforcement vehicles, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The statement indicated that the woman was armed.
The extent of the woman’s injuries remains unclear. DHS reported that she drove herself to a local hospital.
Governor Pritzker told CNN on Saturday that President Trump’s authorization of troops would incite protests, accusing the administration of creating a “war zone” to justify the response.
“They want mayhem on the ground. They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “They’re using every lever at their disposal to keep us from maintaining order.”
Earlier in the week, the president discussed his ongoing military deployments to US cities while addressing high-ranking military leaders.
He expressed his desire for American cities to serve as “training grounds” for US troops, enabling them to combat the “enemy from within” and quell unrest.
“They’re very unsafe places and we’re going to straighten them out one by one,” he said, referring to Democratic-led cities, including Chicago. He informed the military leaders that this would be “a major part for some of the people in this room”.
President Trump has been threatening to deploy troops to Chicago for nearly a month, citing concerns about crime and shootings in the city.
Violent crime in Chicago has decreased significantly over the past two years. Data from the Council on Criminal Justice indicates that the homicide rate between January and June was down by a third compared to the same period last year.
However, overall crime levels in Chicago remain significantly higher than the average for many US cities. At least 58 people were shot, with eight fatalities, over the Labor Day holiday weekend last month.
The Senate will reconvene on Monday to attempt to pass a bill aimed at reopening the government, although its prospects for success appear limited.
FBI leadership is reportedly considering staging a high-profile arrest of the bureau’s former director next week.
Hopes are rising for a potential resolution to the Israel-Gaza conflict, but it remains uncertain whether the two sides can reach a ceasefire agreement.
The BBC’s Nada Tawfik was present inside the courtroom as the convicted hip-hop mogul addressed his family and the judge.
The rapper is set to serve over four years, with approximately one year of credit for time already served since his arrest.
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