advances by leaps and bounds in its militarization of the streets of the United States. Tensing territorial powers (when not violating them) and relying on crime data not always transparent or correct, it is supposedly taking the National Guard to protect very populated urban curses. Chance: it does so in progressive cities, which try to become sanctuaries for people persecuted by whose raids are sowing fear in the country.
The last step is this Sunday: armed federal agents have begun to patrol the streets of downtown Chicago and 200 more soldiers have been called to deploy them in Portland (Oregon), a measure to which mayors and governors have firmly opposed Trump. In both cases, demands have been filed, stating that the president exceeded his authority.
These recent examples of the growing federal military and police presence in American cities have been known while Memphis prepared in these hours for the arrival of additional federal authorities, including immigration and drug control agents, which the governor, in this case Republican and called, Bill Lee, says he hopes that this week will happen. They are territories, they say from the White House, “devastated by war” of crime.
They do not think so the citizens who have taken to the streets to ask them to leave or not those guards arrive, from a military reserve force within the US armed forces, which means that most of its members provide part -time service while performing civil works or carrying out other activities.
This last night, in Chicago, dozens of armed federal agents, with full tactical equipment, toured the streets of some of the most important tourist and commercial areas in the city. The deployment occurs in the middle of an increase in the application of immigration measures that began earlier this month, including repeated conflicts in an ICE building on Broadview, west of Chicago, where federal authorities fired pepper gas and tear gas against protesters on Friday and Saturday. The protest has not calmed down, but has reactivated by violent measures.
Trump’s order on the deployment of troops occurred one day after he announced on social networks that ordered the Department of Defense “to provide all the necessary troops to protect Portland, devastated by war.” Trump said the decision was necessary to protect the facilities of the United States immigration and customs control service, but Governor Tina Kotek said Trump’s description was part of a false narrative aimed at promoting conflict. He is a Democrat, of course.
The measures continue to Trump’s offensive against crime in the Columbia district and the actions in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that become violent with the arrival of the troops. Add and follow.
The case of Chicago
On Sunday, federal agents marched along Michigan Avenue, the Chicago River and exclusive neighborhoods, attracting the attention of buyers and families that had dinner on the terraces. Many used their phones to record what was happening. The activists also followed the customs and border protection agents of the United States, sounding whistles and shouting. Without violence ,.
The mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, and the governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, criticized the sudden physical demonstration of force. “While the inhabitants of Chicago and visitors enjoy another beautiful Sunday, they are being intimidated by masked federal agents who flaunt automatic weapons for no apparent reason,” Johnson said in a statement.
Pritzker echoed the same feeling. “This does not improve anyone’s safety: it is a sample of intimidation that infuses fear in our communities and harms our businesses,” he said in another official note.
Gregory Bovino, a key border patrol agent in the Los Angeles immigration offensive, was among the agents who walked several kilometers near the city center. The federal authorities have affirmed that the increase in the presence in Chicago aimed to arrest “the worst of the worst” of the people who were in the country without documents and with a criminal record. Bovino declared The Associated Press that the agents had made “several arrests”, but refused to specify whether the patrols in the center were aimed at specific people. “We always have a goal: anyone who is illegally,” said Bovino.
“We always have a goal: anyone who is illegally”
During the weekend, the tension increased in front of an ICE building in the Broadview suburb, about 19 kilometers west Chicago. On Friday, agents repeatedly fired chemical agents against a multitude of more than 100 protesters after some tried to prevent a car from circulating around the ICE building. Pepper bullets and tear gas boats hit the crowd, most of which remained away from the fence and did not bloc the traffic. Protesters and journalists described similar scenes on Saturday, s.
The mayor of Broadview criticized ICE for actions that, they said, have put in danger to the local police, firefighters, residents and protesters. Broadview Police also initiated a criminal investigation for an “unpaved attack” against the vehicle of a WBBM-TV Chicago reporter, claiming that immigration agents fired a chemical ammunition.
In previous weeks, protesters had also tried to prevent the vehicles of the agents from entering or leaving a patio adjacent to the building. In recent days, activists and relatives of detainees have expressed concern about the fact that the facilities destined to process those arrested are de facto a detention center full of inhuman conditions.
Trump previously threatened to send the National Guard to Chicago, but has not yet fulfilled it. Now goes for all.
¿Y Portland?
Trump also ordered the 60 -day deployment of troops from the Oregon National Guard to deal with the “violent protests” that threaten the safety of immigrants and other federal properties. He said that protests “constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the United States Government.”
In recent demonstrations, dozens of protesters have been counted, which have concentrated around an ICE building. Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been accused of aggression. Some protesters also claim to have been injured, although there are no final health care data.
Kotek spoke with Trump on Saturday and said the deployment was unnecessary. He refused to call the Oregon National Guard troops, so Trump himself did it in an order to the Secretary of Defense. “Putting our own armed forces on the streets is an abuse of power and a damage to our communities and our military,” Kotek said. “It’s illegal. And it will make Oregon inhabitants less safe.”
“It’s illegal. And it will make Oregon inhabitants less safe.”
The Attorney General of Oregon, Dan Rayfield, said he had filed a lawsuit in the US District Court of Oregon against Trump, Hegseth and others on behalf of the State and the city of Portland. It requests a court order that blocks any deployment, arguing that Trump lacks authority, since the situation does not constitute an invasion or rebellion, or a situation in which federal laws cannot be executed otherwise.
“Oregon’s communities are stable, and our local officials have been clear: we have the ability to manage public security without federal interference,” said Rayfield. “Sending 200 National Guard troops to protect a single building is not normal. If you are concerned about security in your own home, you would make some calls to cover the needs, I would not call an army.”
Memphis, who was missing
Trump announced earlier this month the creation of a work group of federal agencies of public order to combat crime in Memphis. The city has experienced a high number of violent crimes, such as theft of vehicles and homicides, in recent years, but both Democratic and Republican officials have indicated that the city, of a black majority, is experiencing descents this year in some categories of crime.
Governor Lee has publicly declared that he does not expect to send more than 150 members of the National Guard to Memphis, although he states that the figures are not confirmed. The city announced Friday that there will be no tanks. Guard troops will not make arrests or be armed unless local authorities request it, Lee said on Friday. It is not known when the members of the National Guard will arrive. Lee also indicated that 300 agents of the Tennessee road patrol will be in the region.
Latinos in Memphis have expressed concern that ICE agents increase their presence in Memphis and stop people who are legally in the country.
On Saturday, dozens of people marched to a square in front of the City Council to protest against the increase of police officers. At a press conference, the speakers said that, instead of federal troops and agents, Memphis needs more funds for education, crime prevention, young people and hospitals. Oregon officials have made similar comments.
Now it only remains to know what the next city will be in which the president gives the order.
