President Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago to address what he says is out-of-control crime.
The move came hours after immigration authorities faced off with protesters in the Democrat-run city, resulting in the shooting of an armed woman who, along with others, rammed their vehicles into law enforcement.
State and local leaders have criticized Trump's deployment plans as an abuse of power, with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stating that Trump is trying to 'manufacture a crisis.'
This announcement followed a federal judge's decision in Portland, Oregon, temporarily blocking a similar deployment of 200 troops due to concerns over constitutional violations.
Judge Karin Immergut pointed out that Trump's statements regarding conditions in Portland were 'untethered to the facts' and highlighted the risks involved when using military personnel without state consent.
Legal challenges regarding the troops' deployment to Chicago are anticipated, and it remains unclear if any troops have been deployed yet.
Chicago, a recent target for such controversial deployments, has experienced rising protests against immigration enforcement, particularly outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson remarked, 'Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like [Gov] Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets.' Additionally, the DHS confirmed the shooting incident involving the armed woman, whose injuries remain uncertain.
