President Donald Trump announced his intention to send the National Guard to the city of Chicago to deal with the crime crisis, although he refused to give a date for implementation and without official support from the state.
The move to deploy troops to America’s third largest city is said to be his responsibility to maintain public safety and to cite the shooting incident over Labor Day weekend that left many injured and killed.
Trump said, .
The announcement sparked an immediate response from local officials, with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson slamming the move as a “publicity stunt,” a political issue that does not reflect the real situation.
Meanwhile, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said that federal agencies such as ICE have begun to gather military vehicles and officers in advance.
The issue is believed to spark legal disputes, especially regarding executive powers and limits on the use of the military in domestic affairs.
In comparison, a court has blocked a similar move in California, citing violations, opening the possibility that the deployment of troops to Chicago will also face legal restrictions.
