On Sunday, Democratic Party-run Chicago was declared as a warzone as the Trump administration authorized the deployment of federal troops to the city, despite firm opposition from local Democratic leaders. The new move has come amid mounting criticism that President Donald Trump is using law enforcement and military powers to assert political control over Democrat-run cities.
The ongoing clash highlights a growing political divide over law enforcement and migration policy, with Trump repeatedly invoking the need for stronger action in cities he describes as lawless. It was last week that he vowed to combat what he regards as a “war from within.”
His plans to move in troop deployments hit a legal hurdle. In Portland, Oregon, a federal court temporarily blocked the deployment of troops, calling the administration’s justification legally baseless.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled that the violence in Portland did not amount to an organized rebellion. The situation in Chicago also escalated over the weekend. As per the Department of Homeland Security, a federal officer shot a motorist who allegedly rammed into a patrol vehicle. Beyond that, in a separate incident, officers shot and killed a 38-year-old immigrant, Silverio Villegas Gonzales, during a traffic stop on September 12.
The Trump administration has expanded the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with recent raids often carried out in unmarked vehicles-sparking protests in several Democrat-controlled cities.
A CBS News poll released on Sunday showed that 58% of Americans oppose the use of National Guard troops in cities, while 42% support the move. Despite legal and political opposition, the White House seemingly has no intent to back down.
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