President Donald Trump is preparing to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, Illinois, following their deployment in Washington D.C. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has been working on a Chicago military deployment plan for several weeks. Plans are in place for over a thousand National Guard troops to arrive in Chicago by September. This follows Trump’s August 12th order to deploy 800 National Guards in Washington, ostensibly to address the city’s law and order issues. The move is linked to tackling crime, illegal immigration, and homelessness.
Trump signaled his interest in Chicago on Friday, citing disorder in the city and the perceived inadequacy of its mayor. He also mentioned other cities he intends to ‘clean up.’ Officials say a long-term plan is in place for military involvement in Chicago, including collaboration with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to find undocumented immigrants.
Trump’s statements have drawn criticism from mayors and state governors. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker accused Trump of attempting to sow chaos, claiming Los Angeles and Washington D.C. were used as test cases for authoritarian tactics, and that other cities and states are now in his sights. The Governor also suggested Trump’s motives include instilling fear and undermining existing public safety measures, representing an abuse of power. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed serious concern over Trump’s statements and potential actions, calling the President’s views flawed and fallacious.
Trump is utilizing the 1970 Home Rule Act to deploy the National Guard in Washington D.C., granting him the authority to control the city’s police for up to 48 hours during an emergency. Extending this control beyond 48 hours requires notification to relevant congressional committees. Maintaining control for over 30 days necessitates the passage of legislation in Congress, though it remains unclear if this process has been initiated.