National Guard Troops Deploy Amid Controversial Crime Policies

Fri Oct 10 2025 09:10:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Trump administration’s push to deploy National Guard units to bolster law enforcement in major cities faces significant resistance from local officials and ongoing litigation.

National Guard troops are being deployed to cities like Chicago and Memphis as part of the Trump administration's aggressive approach to crime management. This has led to protests, legal challenges, and a clash with local leaders who oppose military involvement in civilian law enforcement. Chicago's crime statistics indicate a decline in violence, further questioning the need for military intervention, while local officials call the deployment politically motivated.

ELWOOD, Ill. – National Guard troops have been positioned outside Chicago with plans to move to Memphis by Friday as the Trump administration escalates its policies addressing crime in major cities, despite pushback from local officials.

Members of the Texas National Guard arrived at an Army Reserve center in Illinois earlier this week amidst legal challenges from Democratic leaders. The specifics of their deployment remain unclear, but it comes amid heightened immigration enforcement operations in the city, where protests against such measures have been frequent.

President Trump has labeled Chicago a hell hole of crime, although local police data indicates a decrease in several crime categories, including a significant drop in homicides.

In Memphis, police Chief Cerelyn Davis reported that preliminary planning is underway for the National Guard’s support role, which has yet to be specifically defined. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has suggested the troops will be given authority by the U.S. Marshals Service for support in law enforcement efforts.

The deployment decision has sparked conflict between the Trump administration and state leaders, with Illinois' Governor JB Pritzker condemning the use of National Guard troops. Pritzker claims that the administration's approach is politically motivated, and he expressed concern over the lack of communication from Washington.

The deployment raised questions regarding the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement. However, Trump indicated readiness to utilize the Insurrection Act if necessary, which allows for military enforcement in states resisting federal authority.

In addition, security measures have escalated around the Army Reserve Center, with federal authorities implementing flight restrictions in the area. Local mayors, including Chicago’s Brandon Johnson, have taken steps to prevent the use of city resources in federal law enforcement initiatives.

As the Trump administration plans to deploy National Guard troops to cities including Baltimore, New Orleans, and others amid a backdrop of declining violent crime rates, the clash between federal and local authorities highlights the complexities surrounding law enforcement policy in America.