Former President Donald Trump on midweek called for the incarceration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, alleging them of not safeguarding ICE agents.
"The city's leader should be jailed for endangering Immigration agents!" Trump wrote on social media early Wednesday. "The Illinois governor as well!"
Both officials are members of the Democratic faction.
These remarks come alongside the arrival of National Guard personnel in the Windy City area under orders from the current government, despite vehement protests from state officials including Pritzker and Johnson.
"This marks yet another attempt where Trump attempted to have an African American leader unjustly detained," Mayor Johnson stated on that day. "I'm not going put."
The governor responded via social platforms, declaring: "I will not back down. Now Trump is calling for imprisonment of democratically chosen representatives resisting his authority. What remains on the road toward complete authoritarianism?"
By Wednesday morning, National Guard troops from the Lone Star State had arrived at the Elwood training facility, an army base approximately 80 kilometers from Chicago, as the administration advances with its aggressive crime strategy and immigration enforcement operations.
The president has labeled Chicago a "crime-ridden hellhole", even though police data indicate notable reductions in many offenses, such as murders.
On Wednesday, 200 Texas National Guard troops were expected to deploy to the Chicago area, with another 300 state military forces readying for deployment, according to sources. Authorities reportedly stated the troops would avoid law enforcement duties but would secure federal immigration agents and their facilities.
Soldiers wearing uniforms with state guard patches were observed at the military facility in Elwood. Vehicles labeled "Disaster Relief" dropped off portable toilets and other supplies. Mobile units were set up in rows. Extra barriers was installed around the compound.
Aviation authorities imposed no-fly zones over the army reserve center for safety concerns until 6 December.
The administration has intensified deportation operations in the city in recent weeks, sparking demonstrations, particularly near an processing facility in Broadview.
On Monday, Illinois and Chicago initiated legal action against the administration, seeking to block the military dispatch, asking a court to stop what they call "Trump's long-declared 'Battle'" on the city and state, labeling it "unlawful and dangerous".
Legal proceedings on their case is set for the next day.
The mayor also signed an directive on Monday banning federal immigration agents and others from using city-owned property as staging areas for enforcement actions.
Pritzker has accused the president of using military forces as "political props" and "chess pieces".
At a news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker said that Trump is attempting to "rationalize and make acceptable the deployment of military personnel under his personal authority."
The historic federal law restricts the army's involvement in enforcing domestic laws. However, the president has stated he would be willing to activate the Insurrection Act, which allows a president to send active duty military in states that are unable to suppress an insurrection or are defying national authority.
Since starting his second term, Trump has dispatched or discussed sending military units to over ten cities, including major metropolitan areas and California cities like Bay Area and Southern California municipalities, claiming that the military presence is essential to fight violence and defend immigration agents.
Statistics indicates that serious offenses nationwide has declined in recent years. In the city, for instance, murders were reduced 31% to 278 through late summer, according to law enforcement reports.
New survey data released on Wednesday revealed that most Americans disapprove of the sending of military forces without an foreign danger.
