Former President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday demanded the incarceration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, accusing them of failing to protect ICE agents.
"The city's leader should be jailed for failing to secure ICE Officers!" Trump posted on social media Wednesday morning. "Governor Pritzker too!"
Both officials are members of the Democratic party.
These remarks come alongside the arrival of state military troops in the Chicago region under orders from the federal administration, notwithstanding vehement protests from Illinois authorities such as the governor and mayor.
"This represents yet another attempt where Trump attempted to have an African American leader wrongfully arrested," Mayor Johnson stated on that day. "I'm not going put."
Pritzker also replied via social platforms, stating: "I refuse to back down. Now Trump is calling for imprisonment of democratically chosen representatives checking his power. What remains on the road toward complete authoritarianism?"
By Wednesday morning, National Guard troops from the Lone Star State had arrived at the Elwood army reserve center, a military installation roughly 50 miles from the city, as the administration advances with its aggressive urban crime policy and immigration enforcement operations.
Trump has labeled Chicago a "crime-ridden hellhole", despite police data indicate significant drops in most criminal activities, such as homicides.
That day, 200 state guard members were expected to deploy to the Chicago area, with an additional three hundred state military personnel preparing to mobilize, per sources. Authorities indicated the troops would not perform law enforcement duties but would protect federal immigration agents and their facilities.
Soldiers in combat attire with Texas national guard insignia were spotted at the military facility in Elwood. Vehicles marked "Disaster Relief" dropped off portable toilets and essential items. Trailers were set up in rows. Additional fencing was installed around the perimeter.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed flight restrictions over the military base for security reasons until 6 December.
Federal authorities has escalated deportation operations in the city in recent weeks, sparking demonstrations, especially near an immigration center in Broadview.
On Monday, state and city filed a lawsuit targeting the administration, seeking to block the military dispatch, asking a federal judge to stop what they describe as "the president's proclaimed 'Battle'" on the city and state, labeling it "illegal and risky".
A court hearing on their case is scheduled for Thursday.
The mayor also signed an executive order on that day banning federal immigration agents and related personnel from using city-owned property as staging areas for enforcement actions.
The governor has accused the president of using military forces as "staged tools" and "chess pieces".
At a news conference on the previous day, Pritzker said that the president is attempting to "rationalize and normalize the presence of military personnel under his direct command."
The historic Posse Comitatus Act limits the military's role in enforcing domestic laws. However, Trump has stated he would be prepared to activate the emergency powers, which permits a president to dispatch regular army in regions that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying federal law.
After beginning his second term, Trump has dispatched or discussed sending troops to at least 10 cities, including major metropolitan areas and California cities like Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, arguing that the armed forces is essential to combat crime and defend ICE officers.
Statistics shows that serious offenses across the US has decreased in the past few years. In the city, for instance, homicides were down 31% to 278 through late summer, per police data.
New survey data released on that day found that most Americans oppose the sending of troops without an foreign danger.
