Trump
Washington – United States President Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of troops to Chicago following a shooting incident involving a federal agent and an allegedly armed motorist on Saturday. This escalation comes amid a federal judge’s decision to block Trump’s attempt to send military forces into Portland, another city under Democratic control. The moves highlight the growing tensions in Trump’s aggressive crackdown on crime and migration, which Democrats label as an authoritarian overreach. “President Trump has authorized 300 national guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets” in Chicago, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement, after weeks of the Republican threats to send troops to the Midwestern city over the wishes of local leaders.
“President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin called the move a “shameful chapter in our nation’s history,” adding that the “President is not intent on fighting crime. He is intent on spreading fear.”
The crisis has spread to cities like Chicago and Portland, following similar actions in Los Angeles and Washington, where masked agents in unmarked vehicles have conducted raids, sparking widespread protests.
Escalating Federal Interventions in Democratic-Run Cities
The deployment to Chicago is part of Trump’s broader strategy to address what he describes as rampant lawlessness in major urban centres. This follows the launch of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ in September 2025, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiative targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records in Illinois. Named in honour of Katie Abraham, a victim of crime allegedly linked to illegal immigration, the operation has led to over 1,000 arrests, including raids involving helicopters and armoured vehicles.
In Chicago, federal agents have ramped up enforcement, leading to daily protests and confrontations. The White House justified the National Guard’s involvement as necessary to protect federal personnel and property amid rising unrest. However, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker strongly opposed the federalisation of state troops, calling it an overreach. Pritzker confirmed that Trump plans to federalise 300 Illinois National Guard members, despite his refusal to deploy them, stating it undermines state authority and escalates tensions.
Similar federal actions in other cities have drawn criticism for resembling militarised occupations rather than standard law enforcement. In Portland, Trump has repeatedly labelled the city “war-ravaged” and crime-ridden, but US District Judge Karin Immergut ruled against the deployment, stating the President’s determination was “simply untethered to the facts.”
Although the city has seen scattered attacks on federal officers and property, the Trump administration failed to demonstrate “that those episodes of violence were part of an organized attempt to overthrow the government as a whole,” Immergut wrote in granting a temporary restraining order.
Protests in Portland did not pose a “danger of rebellion” and “regular law enforcement forces” could handle such incidents, Immergut said.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden applauded the order, saying the “victory supports what Oregonians already know: we don’t need or want Donald Trump to provoke violence by deploying federal troops in our state.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller wrote on social media that the judge’s order was “legal insurrection” and accused local leaders in Oregon of conducting an “organized terrorist attack on the federal government.”
Details of the Chicago Shooting Incident
The catalyst for the latest deployment was a confrontation in Chicago on Saturday, where a federal officer shot a motorist after agents were reportedly “boxed in by 10 cars,” according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Agents were unable to move their vehicles and exited the car. One of the drivers who rammed the law enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic weapon,” DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
“Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed US citizen,” she said.
The motorist, a woman and US citizen, drove herself to the hospital with wounds and was reported in fair condition. Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt confirmed she was taken to a local hospital, but details remain unverified independently.
DHS accused Chicago police of “leaving the shooting scene” and refusing “to assist us in securing the area.” Chicago police responded to the incident but clarified they are “not involved in the incident or its investigation. Federal authorities are investigating this shooting.”
Protesters chanting “ICE go home!” gathered at the scene, met with tear gas and pepper balls, dispersing temporarily before returning. The area cleared after federal agents left.
This is not the first shooting under federal operations in Chicago. In September 2025, ICE officers shot and killed 38-year-old immigrant Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during a traffic stop, claiming he tried to flee and dragged an officer.
Broader Context of Trump’s Crackdown
Trump’s administration has expanded federal raids under initiatives like Operation Midway Blitz, focusing on immigration and crime in sanctuary cities like Chicago. Launched in honour of Katie Abraham, the operation targets criminal non-citizens but has sparked accusations of overreach, with raids in residential areas using unmarked vehicles and masked agents.
Critics, including Democrats, argue these actions aim to spread fear rather than fight crime, especially in election battlegrounds. The deployments pit federal authority against state rights, with governors like Pritzker and Oregon’s leaders resisting.
In Portland, ongoing protests against federal presence have led to legal battles, with Immergut’s ruling emphasising that local forces suffice without military intervention.
White House officials defend the moves as necessary to restore order, but opponents see them as election-year tactics to rally Trump’s base on law-and-order themes.
Reactions and Legal Challenges
The Chicago deployment drew swift backlash. Senator Durbin decried it as fear-mongering, while Governor Pritzker warned it could worsen community tensions. Pro-immigrant groups protested, calling for federal withdrawal.
In Portland, the judge’s block was hailed as a win for state sovereignty. Senator Wyden praised it as protecting against provoked violence.
Miller’s “legal insurrection” tweet escalated rhetoric, accusing locals of terrorism.
Legal experts note these cases test federal powers under the Insurrection Act, with courts scrutinising claims of rebellion.
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