WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible federal takeover of Chicago as part of his “law-and-order” agenda. This comes just weeks after he used the Home Rule Act to put the Washington D.C. police department directly under federal supervision. The President is now focused on the third-largest city in the country, saying that its people are “desperate” for him to “STOP THE CRIME.”
The President wrote on his social media site, Truth Social, “Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend.” There were 20 gunshot victims. But he doesn’t want to ask me for aid. Is this possible? The people want me to STOP THE CRIME, but the Democrats can’t do it. STAY TUNED!!! President DJT
President Trump has gone after Chicago before. Last week, he dubbed Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, “grossly incompetent” and stated, “Chicago’s a catastrophe… we’ll probably fix that one next. That will be the next one we do. And it won’t even be hard. The possible federal action is part of the President’s larger effort to fight crime, illegal immigration, and homelessness. It may mean sending “a few thousand members of the National Guard as soon as September.”
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have both strongly opposed the notion, saying that the President does not have the legal right to take over local police enforcement. A report from Reuters says that the two leaders are working closely together. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has already started making plans on what to do if federal troops are sent in.
Larry Snelling, the head of the Chicago Police Department, said at a press conference that the city’s police would not help federal law enforcement, but they also would not get in the way of it. Snelling stressed how important it is for people to trust one other, especially in immigrant communities. He said, “We’re not going to ask anyone’s immigration status; we don’t care.” We will keep fighting for the people in our city to keep them secure.
The Trump administration has already sought a military facility outside of Chicago for help with immigration operations, which is another indicator that the federal government may be getting tougher on immigration. The Department of Homeland Security has asked Naval Station Great Lakes, which is 56 kilometers north of Chicago, to supply “facilities, infrastructure, and other logistical needs to support DHS operations.” Matt Mogle, a spokesman for the base, said that the request was received, but that no formal decisions have been made and that the post has not been asked to assist a National Guard deployment.
The fight is comparable to others that have happened in Los Angeles and Washington D.C., where local leaders have fought against what they regard as federal overreach and a military presence that is politically motivated. The President has said that his steps are necessary to fight crime, while city and state officials are getting ready for a possible legal and political fight.