President Donald Trump once again raised the prospect of deploying troops to Chicago, sparking widespread backlash from state and city leaders. His latest remarks came in a Truth Social post where he shared an AI-generated image parodying Apocalypse Now, with the caption: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning … Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
Federal Push for Immigration Crackdown
Mr. Trump has repeatedly targeted Chicago and other Democrat-led cities for what he describes as expanded federal intervention on crime and immigration. His administration confirmed plans to increase immigration enforcement in Chicago, similar to actions taken in Los Angeles earlier this year. In June, he deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, and in July, he extended those actions to Washington, D.C.
However, a federal court in California ruled this week that the Los Angeles deployment violated the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, directly challenges the legality of Mr. Trump’s strategy.
Despite the setback, the administration has not backed down. In response to questions during an Oval Office event, Mr. Trump declared: “We’re going in. I didn’t say when, we’re going in.”
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Fierce Pushback From Illinois Leaders
The threats have provoked strong opposition across Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker condemned the remarks, writing on X: “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized the president’s rhetoric, calling it “beneath the honor of our nation.” In a statement on X, he added: “The reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution. We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.”
Civil rights groups, church leaders, and community organizers have warned that the plan would destabilize immigrant communities. Some organizers postponed Chicago’s downtown Mexican Independence Day festival out of fear that the crackdown could intimidate participants.
DHS Prepares Operation in Illinois
Internal documents obtained by CBS News revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested accommodations at Naval Station Great Lakes, the largest military base in Illinois. The request included housing for 250 federal agents and 140 vehicles for at least 30 days, signaling that the crackdown could stretch for weeks.
A DHS spokesperson said the department will “go to wherever these criminal illegal aliens are — including Chicago, Boston, and other cities.” The statement underscored the administration’s intent to expand nationwide enforcement.
Community groups in Chicago are now bracing for large-scale raids, while lawsuits are expected to challenge the legality of any troop deployment. For now, the Windy City stands at the center of a brewing clash between federal power and local resistance.
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