The Pentagon is preparing to send National Guard troops to Chicago as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to fight crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration in Democrat-run cities, according to The Washington Post.
Officials say planning has been underway for weeks and could involve mobilizing a few thousand National Guard troops as soon as September.
Chicago is one of 19 states identified for the deployment, which will involve an estimated 1,700 troops supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security. The deployments are scheduled to begin in August and run through mid-November, with Texas expected to see the largest presence.
Troops would serve in support roles such as case management, transportation, logistics, and clerical work, while also helping deter crime. The possibility of using active-duty military has been raised, but officials say that option is less likely.
Trump made clear Friday that Chicago is next on his list after the administration’s recent federal law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C. “Chicago’s a mess,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “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.”
The President’s earlier deployment in the nation’s capital has already put hundreds of federal agents and National Guard members on the streets, with officials saying crime there has dropped in recent weeks.
Trump is now tying Chicago’s planned deployment to his broader agenda of restoring law and order nationwide and expanding ICE operations, with a new target of 3,000 deportation arrests per day.
Democrats in Illinois have pushed back hard against the plan.
Governor JB Pritzker said Saturday that his state has not asked for federal help and does not need it. “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,” he said.
“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.”
Pritzker accused Trump of trying to “manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families.”
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton echoed his criticism, saying, “This proves what we all know: he is willing to go to any lengths possible to create chaos if it means more political power—no matter who gets hurt. Crime in Chicago is declining and there’s absolutely no rationale for this decision, other than to distract from the pain Trump is inflicting on working families with his dangerous agenda.”
Chicago’s Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson also denounced the plan, saying an uncoordinated troop deployment could undermine progress made in reducing crime.
“We have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to the City of Chicago,” Johnson told the Post. He argued the move would inflame tensions between residents and police at a time when trust is critical.
Despite opposition, Pentagon planning continues. A spokesperson declined to discuss specifics but said, “The department is a planning organization and is continuously working with other agency partners on plans to protect federal assets and personnel.”
If carried out, Chicago would become the third major U.S. city to see large-scale military involvement during Trump’s second term, underscoring the administration’s willingness to override local resistance in pursuit of law and order.