Trump Plans to Deploy National Guard to Chicago Amidst Immigration Crackdown and Anti-Crime Agenda

The Trump administration is reportedly considering deploying National Guard troops to Chicago as part of an escalated anti-crime and immigration enforcement initiative across major U.S. cities. However, details regarding the number of troops and deployment timeline remain unclear.

President Trump hinted at these plans during a White House meeting on Friday, stating, “Chicago will be our next [city], then we’ll help with New York.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, has not received any communication from the White House regarding the deployment or increased law enforcement presence in the city. Johnson deemed such a move as unnecessary and potentially illegal. In a statement, he stated, “There are numerous ways the federal government could aid us in reducing crime and violence in Chicago, but deploying the military is not one of them.”

CNN reached out to both the White House and Pentagon for comment, with The Washington Post initially reporting on these plans.

The potential deployment aligns with the Trump administration’s unique approach to utilizing the military for law enforcement and immigration actions within U.S. borders. In contrast to Washington D.C., where federal authorities have broader authority in directing troops and federal agencies, the administration’s future plans—including those in Chicago—may mirror Trump’s earlier summer deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to manage immigration protests.

In June, Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code to send approximately 700 active-duty Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles over California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s objection. Title 10 allows the president to deploy the National Guard as necessary to repel invasion, suppress rebellion, or execute laws, effectively placing them under presidential command rather than state governors.

California quickly challenged the legality of Trump’s deployment through a lawsuit making its way through the court system. Despite this, Trump characterized the move as a success on social media in June, claiming, “Without the Military, Los Angeles would be a crime scene like we haven’t seen in years.”

The deployment of National Guard troops is not uncommon in emergency situations across the country for disaster relief or civil unrest. However, experts argue that using them to crack down on crime and implement immigration policies on a broader scale is unprecedented.

As the administration looks to expand its immigration agenda within the U.S., rather than just along the southern border, it has sought to augment Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s capacity by drawing personnel from various agencies, including the military.

Internal discussions have reportedly included mobilizing active-duty troops from consenting states for force protection of federal agents and exploring the possibility of utilizing National Guard units from Republican-led states in non-consenting states.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has also indicated that cities and states with “sanctuary policies,” limiting local officials’ involvement in federal immigration enforcement, could be targets for the National Guard. However, Democratic governors and city mayors are pushing back against these potential actions.

In response to a letter from Bondi, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, stated earlier this week, “Stop attacking our cities to mask your administration’s failures.”