President Donald Trump intensified his confrontation with the Democratic authorities of Illinois and Chicago this Wednesday, accusing without evidence Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, respectively, of “not protecting” the agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).
From his account on Truth Social, the president stated that both “should be in jail” for opposing the deployment of National Guard troops as part of his offensive against migration and crime.
The publication adds to an already tense political climate, marked by protests, lawsuits and the frontal rejection by local authorities of the military presence in their communities.
National Guard troops arrive in Illinois
Earlier this week, Texas National Guard soldiers were seen at the Army Reserve Center in Elwood, 88 kilometers southwest of Chicago.
According to Pritzker, more than 300 Illinois Guard members are expected to be “federalized” and deployed along with another 400 from Texas.
The state government assures that it still does not know the exact role that the troops will play, but has warned that the deployment violates the law and represents “a risk to the safety of citizens.”
“I can’t believe I have to talk about ‘troop movements’ in an American city, but that’s happening here,” Pritzker said at a press conference.
The governor and the mayor have filed lawsuits in court to block the measure, alleging that it violates the Law Posse Comitatus, that limits the intervention of the army in compliance with local laws.
Legal and constitutional battle
A court hearing is scheduled for this Thursday to evaluate Illinois and Chicago’s request to declare the deployment illegal.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also filed a lawsuit against Trump and the Department of Homeland Security, accusing federal authorities of using force against peaceful protesters and journalists at protests near an ICE facility in Broadview.
Federal agents have reportedly fired tear gas and rubber projectiles into crowds, arresting at least seven people on federal charges.
Political rejection and accusations of authoritarianism
Mayor Brandon Johnson responded to Trump from his X account (formerly Twitter): “This is not Trump’s first attempt to wrongfully arrest a black man. I’m not going anywhere.”
Pritzker wrote that the president “is calling for the arrest of elected representatives who control his power,” and asked, “What else is left on the path to total authoritarianism?”
Both agree that the military deployment seeks to “stir up fear” and concentrate more power in the hands of the president. “This is about breaking the Constitution and having more control over our cities,” Johnson said.
Expansion of the plan to other cities
Chicago is not the only city in the Republican president’s sights. Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has sent or considered sending troops to ten cities, including Portland, Baltimore, Memphis, the District of Columbia, New Orleans and several California cities such as Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In Portland, Oregon, protests at an ICE building have continued for months. Governor Tina Kotek has requested to avoid the arrival of the National Guard, ensuring that “there is no insurrection” in the territory and warning against military surveillance in the communities.
An appeals court will hold a hearing this Thursday to evaluate the legality of the deployment in the state’s largest city after a federal judge blocked the Government’s attempt.
Differences in the reception of troops
The military deployment divides opinions between different states. In Memphis, Tennessee, Republican Governor Bill Lee has supported the arrival of soldiers to work alongside local police. There, members of a federal task force already operate as part of Trump’s crime-fighting plan with support from the Department of Defense and Homeland Security.
By contrast, in cities like Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed executive orders to guarantee the independence of his police department and establish reporting protocols for potential abuses by federal elements.
The Insurrection Law under debate
Trump has hinted that he could turn to the Insurrection Act, which allows the president to send active-duty military to states that cannot control riots or that defy federal law.
Analysts and local authorities warn that this measure would be an unprecedented escalation in recent times, opening the door to direct military participation in internal affairs without state consent.
Confrontation scenario
With protests in the streets, ongoing lawsuits and increasingly confrontational language between local leaders and the White House, the deployment in Chicago has become a symbol of the struggle for control of cities and for the real extent of presidential power.
In Pritzker’s words, “this is not just a political dispute: we are talking about preserving democracy and following the law.”
Meanwhile, Trump maintains his narrative that cities governed by Democrats are “overwhelmed by crime” and require federal intervention, a position that, for the moment, will continue to face legal and political resistance in Illinois and other states in the American Union.
