Trump Deploys 300 National Guard Troops to Chicago Amid Mounting Tensions

United States President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago, following weeks of threats to take such action despite resistance from local leaders.

“President Trump has authorised 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson announced on Saturday. “President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”

The move intensifies a growing national standoff between Trump’s aggressive anti-crime measures and Democratic leaders who accuse him of authoritarian overreach. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin condemned the deployment as a “shameful chapter in our nation’s history,” saying the president “is not intent on fighting crime, he is intent on spreading fear.”

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Chicago and Portland have become flashpoints in the administration’s federal crackdown, following similar deployments in Los Angeles and Washington. Witnesses have reported masked, armed men in unmarked vehicles targeting neighborhoods and businesses, sparking widespread protests.

In Portland, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut criticized the administration’s justification for sending federal forces, writing that Trump’s claims of an “organized rebellion” were “untethered to the facts.” The court granted a temporary restraining order, noting that regular law enforcement was sufficient to handle local unrest.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden hailed the ruling as a “victory,” saying residents “don’t need or want Donald Trump to provoke violence by deploying federal troops.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller responded on social media, calling the ruling “legal insurrection” and accusing local leaders of waging an “organized terrorist attack” on the government.

The latest flashpoint came Saturday when a federal officer in Chicago shot a motorist during what officials described as a chaotic confrontation. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), law enforcement agents were “boxed in by 10 cars,” prompting them to open fire after one driver allegedly aimed a semi-automatic weapon.

DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the motorist later drove herself to the hospital. However, local fire officials told the Sun-Times she was found in fair condition and transported by paramedics.

McLaughlin also accused Chicago police of refusing to assist federal agents at the scene. City police said they responded but were “not involved in the incident or its investigation.” The shooting prompted protests, with demonstrators chanting “ICE go home!” before being dispersed with tear gas and pepper balls.

The deployment comes under the banner of “Operation Midway Blitz,” launched last month in Chicago. Saturday’s shooting follows a September 12 incident where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot and killed 38-year-old Silverio Villegas Gozalez during a traffic stop, alleging he tried to flee and dragged an officer with his vehicle.

— AFP

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