The Pentagon is preparing to deploy U.S. military forces to Chicago as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to address crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration, The Washington Post reported Saturday, citing officials familiar with the discussions.
The plans, which have been under consideration for weeks, include several options, such as mobilizing several thousand National Guard members as early as September, according to the report.
Chicago is one of several Democratic-led cities under review for deployment. The Daily Mail reported that about 1,700 National Guard troops could be sent to assist with immigration enforcement and crime reduction efforts across 19 states.
According to the report, the deployments will support Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. They are scheduled to begin in August and continue through at least mid-November, with Texas expected to host the largest contingent.
The states identified for National Guard support are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. Troops are expected to serve primarily in support roles, including case management, transportation, logistics, and clerical work, while also contributing to broader crime deterrence efforts, reports said.
“The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention,” Illinois Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker noted in a statement in response to the reports.
“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders,” he added, accusing Trump of manufacturing a crisis.
“Chicago’s a mess,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Friday, as he singled out Chicago as his next target after Washington, D.C. “You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent. And we’ll straighten that one out probably next. That’ll be our next one after this. And it won’t even be tough.”