National Guard troops were dispatched to areas near Chicago on Monday, and local authorities expect them to reach Memphis by Friday, coinciding with President Trump’s crackdown on federal crime.
Illinois troops are currently based at the Army Reserve Center in Ellwood, located around 85 miles southwest of Chicago. Reports indicate that supplies were delivered to the facility on Wednesday morning, and extra fencing was put up around its perimeter.
Over the weekend, President Trump federalized 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, despite pushback from Democratic Governor JB Pritzker. The following day, Pritzker revealed plans to send 400 Texas National Guard troops to Illinois and Oregon.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared photos on social media showing the deployment of his state’s troops, which took place on Monday night.
A U.S. District Judge, Karin Immergut, temporarily halted the National Guard’s deployment to Portland, Oregon, as the Trump administration aims to send troops to various cities with Democratic leadership. Legal hurdles have previously obstructed such troop movements to places like Oregon, California, and Texas.
In response, Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the troop deployment within the city, claiming it violates federal regulations regarding military involvement in civilian law enforcement. U.S. District Judge April Perry did not block the deployment immediately; legal responses were being prepared by the Justice Department.
On Tuesday, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis announced at a City Council meeting that National Guard troops are expected to arrive Friday. Recently, President Trump established the Memphis Safety Task Force, which includes National Guard members and federal law enforcement personnel.
The focus on crime in Chicago and Memphis has grown, with recent data indicating a 22 percent decrease in violent crime in Chicago compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Memphis has seen its crime rates drop to levels not seen in 25 years.
This military presence follows President Trump’s earlier actions in Washington, D.C., where he sent troops and federal officers to combat crime, a mission his administration has deemed successful.
