Schools resume operations in D.C. amidst parents' apprehensions about Trump's army-backed security measures
In a move that has sparked controversy and legal concerns, former President Donald Trump is considering expanding the deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officers to cities beyond Washington D.C., potentially including Chicago.
The nation's third-largest city, Chicago, is currently grappling with persistent high crime in some neighborhoods, such as Austin on the city's West Side. However, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other Chicago leaders have not received any communication from the Trump administration regarding a potential federal initiative to deploy military personnel.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a first-term Democrat, has expressed his opposition to the potential deployment, calling it unconstitutional. Pritzker, too, has voiced his opposition, labelling the move as performative, partisan, and racist.
Trump's administration has reported illegal aliens being apprehended in Washington, and claimed that more than 1,000 people have been arrested since August 7, including 86 on Sunday. Armed National Guard troops from Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee were seen in Washington on Monday, with the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issuing a directive for some troops to carry firearms.
The U.S. states currently providing National Guard units deployed in Washington D.C. include West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio, all governed by Republicans. West Virginia is sending 300 to 400 soldiers, South Carolina 200, and Ohio 150, supporting the operations ordered by former President Trump.
Former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has questioned what role the National Guard would play in fighting street violence in Chicago. In contrast, Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington expressed her opposition to the National Guard's presence in her city.
Interestingly, armed Guard members in Washington will be operating under long-standing rules for the use of military force inside the U.S. The task force overseeing all the troops deployed to D.C. stated that among their duties is picking up trash.
While Chicago has faced potential backlash and legal action due to the possibility of military patrolling its streets, it's worth noting that violent crime in the city dropped significantly in the first half of 2025, representing the steepest decline in over a decade, according to police data.
Pritzker deemed the deployment as a distraction and unnecessary, citing drops in crime rates in Chicago and nationwide. Trump, however, has suggested deploying the National Guard to Chicago regardless of Pritzker's opinion, calling the city a "killing field."
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the potential deployment of military personnel in Chicago will play out, and whether it will indeed help to reduce crime or spark further controversy and legal action.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Enemy Forces Have Taken Ukrainian Prisoner
- BJP Persuaded Delhi Voters That Supporting AAP Was Pointless, According to Pavan K. Varma
- Potential Democratic Contenders for Presidency in 2028 Yet to Exclude Themselves from Race
