IT BEGINS: Trump Preparing Major Immigration Enforcement Operations in Chicago, Possibly Considering National Guard Deployment
The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to deploy federal agents and National Guard troops to Chicago as early as next week, as part of a broader initiative to address crime in major U.S. cities. This follows a similar federal intervention in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.
According to The New York Times, roughly 200 Department of Homeland Security personnel will be stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes, just north of Chicago, and could remain there throughout the month of September. The deployment will primarily focus on immigration enforcement in Illinois, a sanctuary state, though National Guard troops may also be used to respond to civil unrest or deter violent crime.
Federal law enforcement has already been deployed in the nation’s capital, where President Trump claims a sharp reduction in crime has followed. He stated on Truth Social that over 1,300 individuals have been arrested in Washington, D.C., and highlighted significant declines in violent crime: a 30% drop overall, a 57% decrease in homicides, and an 87% reduction in carjackings. “D.C. will soon be a CRIME FREE ZONE, in only 14 days, far faster than scheduled,” Trump posted.
Sources familiar with the administration’s plans told CNN that Chicago is the next target in the president’s broader initiative, which could later include cities such as Baltimore, New York, and San Francisco. The president recently signaled these intentions, stating, “I think Chicago will be our next, and then we’ll help with New York,” and criticized San Francisco’s leadership, claiming, “They’ve destroyed it… We’ll clean that one up, too.”
Chicago has previously clashed with the Trump administration over its sanctuary city policies. In the early days of Trump’s presidency, the city was among the first to face immigration enforcement operations. A legal battle over federal funding ensued, but the lawsuit was dismissed when a judge ruled the federal government lacked standing.
This new operation is expected to be larger in scale and may involve personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and potentially other federal agencies. Armored vehicles are reportedly being sent to the area, and an increase in federal agents is anticipated by Friday, September 5. Planning remains fluid, and final decisions are still being made.
White House officials have clarified that this initiative is separate from the broader crime-fighting proposals the president has floated in recent weeks, which would involve a wider use of federal forces in urban areas.
The latest push comes after another weekend of violence in Chicago, where six people were killed and 27 were injured in shootings, according to CBS. The victims ranged in age from five to 48 years old. In response, Trump criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, writing on social media: “Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn’t want to ask me for help. Can this be possible? The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME… STAY TUNED!!!”
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