🔗 Share this article

Former President Donald Trump on midweek called for the detainment of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, alleging them of not safeguarding federal immigration officers.

"The city's leader belongs behind bars for endangering Immigration agents!" Trump wrote on his platform Wednesday morning. "The Illinois governor as well!"

Both officials identify as the Democratic faction.

These remarks coincide with the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago region following directives from the federal administration, despite strong objections from Illinois authorities including Pritzker and Johnson.

"This represents yet another attempt where Trump attempted to have a Black man unjustly detained," Mayor Johnson stated on Wednesday. "I'm not going put."

Pritzker also replied via online channels, stating: "I refuse to yield. Trump is now calling for imprisonment of democratically chosen representatives resisting his authority. What remains on the road toward complete authoritarianism?"

By Wednesday morning, National Guard units from Texas had arrived at the Elwood army reserve center, an army base roughly 50 miles from the city, as the administration pushes forward with its hardline crime strategy and mass deportation efforts.

Trump has called Chicago a "crime-ridden disaster zone", despite official statistics indicate notable reductions in most criminal activities, including murders.

On Wednesday, 200 Texas National Guard members were expected to deploy to the region, with an additional three hundred Illinois guard forces readying for deployment, per sources. Officials indicated the soldiers would avoid police functions but would protect ICE officers and their facilities.

Military personnel wearing uniforms with state guard patches were observed at the US army reserve center in Elwood. Trucks marked "Disaster Relief" dropped off portable toilets and other supplies. Mobile units were arranged in lines. Extra barriers was installed around the compound.

Aviation authorities ordered flight restrictions over the military base for security reasons until 6 December.

Federal authorities has escalated immigration enforcement in the city in recent weeks, sparking protests, particularly near an processing facility in Broadview.

Earlier this week, Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit against the federal government, seeking to block the military dispatch, asking a federal judge to stop what they describe as "the president's proclaimed 'War'" on Chicago and Illinois, labeling it "unlawful and dangerous".

Legal proceedings on their lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday.

Mayor Johnson also issued an executive order on that day prohibiting ICE officers and others from using city-owned property as operation bases for enforcement actions.

Pritzker has charged the president of using troops as "political props" and "chess pieces".

At a news conference on the previous day, Pritzker said that Trump is attempting to "rationalize and normalize the deployment of military personnel under his direct command."

The historic Posse Comitatus Act limits the army's involvement in civilian law enforcement. However, Trump has said he would be willing to activate the emergency powers, which permits a commander-in-chief to send active duty military in regions that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying national authority.

After beginning his new administration, the president has sent or mentioned sending military units to at least 10 cities, including major metropolitan areas and California cities like Bay Area and Southern California municipalities, arguing that the armed forces is essential to fight violence and protect immigration agents.

Data indicates that serious offenses across the US has decreased in recent years. In the city, for example, murders were down 31% to under three hundred through late summer, per police data.

New survey data released on that day revealed that the majority of US citizens disapprove of the deployment of troops without an foreign danger.