"Chicago's mayor should be in jail for failing to protect officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)! Governor Pritzker too!" President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on 8/10, referring to Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois governor JB Pritzker. He did not provide any evidence for his claim.

President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, White House, 6/10. Photo: AFP

The US president's comments come as Illinois state and Chicago city authorities filed a lawsuit to block the deployment of national guard forces to the area, calling the move "unconstitutional". Mayor Johnson also signed an order declaring Chicago an "ICE-free zone", prohibiting federal immigration agents from operating on city-owned property.

Meanwhile, the White House asserted President Trump's national guard deployment was legal and necessary, accusing local leaders of condoning violence and undermining public safety.

ICE agents conducted many raids in Chicago, leading to numerous protests in the city. The Trump administration responded by deploying the Illinois national guard to Chicago, prompting strong opposition from Democratic officials in the state.

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson. Photo: AFP

On 7/10, speaking at an event in Minneapolis, Governor Pritzker, when asked why Trump deployed the national guard to Chicago, suggested the president's action was an early sign of an effort to intimidate Democratic voters before next year's midterm elections.

According to US Northern Command, approximately 500 soldiers, including 300 from the Illinois national guard and 200 from Texas, are present in and around Chicago.

President Trump has disagreed with some Democratic-led states regarding efforts to deploy troops on US territory, citing the need to protect ICE agents and control crime. "Chicago is a great city, but you cannot be a great city if you have murders and many other problems. And they are having those problems," he said.

But local officials say President Trump is exaggerating concerns about violent crime, and federal intervention will only worsen the situation.

Illinois governor JB Pritzker speaks in Chicago in September. Photo: Reuters

The US national guard does not have arrest powers but can restrain or temporarily detain individuals deemed potential security threats, then hand them over to police. US Northern Command stated that soldiers in Illinois will be tasked with protecting federal personnel and property.

By Vu Hoang (AFP, Reuters, WSJ)