Fact-Check on National Guard Deployment in Chicago

On Wednesday, Kayleigh McEnany, a co-host on “Outnumbered,” engaged in a discussion with Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson regarding the deployment of National Guard forces in the city. This came in response to comments made by former President Donald Trump, who hinted at federal enforcement actions happening in Chicago on August 25.

McEnany referenced a previous clip where Johnson expressed concerns about these federal efforts. This discussion was prompted by co-host Harris Faulkner’s questions. “I think it would be helpful for Mayor Johnson and officials like JB Pritzker to have a little constitutional tutorial,” McEnany stated. “Chicago is facing situations that are quite different from what we see in cities like Portland or Memphis. For example, ICE carries out operations based on federal authority, something clearly affirmed by the Supreme Court.”

“Secondly, federal agents were sent to safeguard ICE facilities,” McEnany continued, citing legal provisions that allow for the protection of federal property under specific circumstances. Federal agents found themselves using pepper balls against protesters during a disturbance outside an ICE facility in the Chicago area, where some individuals were arrested. Videos surfaced online showing some rioters calling for the arrest of ICE agents.

“So, why the need for federal protection at that ICE facility in Chicago?” McEnany asked. “Because the Department of Homeland Security shared images of what was discovered outside of that facility: firearms and other weapons. Eleven arrests were made at that scene. Trump’s position has been clear—when he says he is protecting the ICE facility, he backs that up with action.”

In related incidents, a shooting at a Dallas ICE office resulted in one death on September 24, with the shooter taking his own life. Since July 4, ten people have faced charges related to prior violent incidents at border facilities in Texas.

Resistance to ICE operations has emerged from various officials, including Milwaukee and Nashville’s Democratic Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who reportedly assisted undocumented immigrants in evading ICE agents. In New York City, an incident involving a former Democratic mayoral candidate highlighted tensions with ICE, where he was arrested for obstructing an operation last June.