Ex-President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday demanded the incarceration of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, accusing them of not safeguarding ICE agents.
"Chicago's Mayor should be jailed for endangering Immigration agents!" Trump posted on his platform early Wednesday. "The Illinois governor as well!"
The two leaders are members of the Democratic party.
These remarks come alongside the arrival of state military personnel in the Windy City area under orders from the current government, notwithstanding vehement protests from Illinois authorities such as Pritzker and Johnson.
"This marks yet another attempt where Trump attempted to have a Black man wrongfully arrested," Mayor Johnson stated on that day. "I'm not going put."
The governor responded via online channels, stating: "I will not yield. Trump is now calling for imprisonment of elected officials checking his power. What's next on the path to complete autocracy?"
As of midweek, military troops from the Lone Star State had arrived at the Elwood training facility, an army base roughly 80 kilometers from the city, as the federal government pushes forward with its aggressive urban crime policy and mass deportation efforts.
Trump has labeled Chicago a "crime-ridden disaster zone", even though police data indicate significant drops in many offenses, such as homicides.
On Wednesday, 200 state guard troops were scheduled to arrive to the region, with another 300 state military personnel preparing to mobilize, per reports. Officials reportedly stated the troops would avoid police functions but would protect federal immigration agents and government buildings.
Soldiers wearing uniforms with state guard patches were spotted at the US army reserve center in the town. Trucks labeled "Disaster Relief" delivered portable toilets and essential items. Mobile units were arranged in rows. Extra barriers was placed around the compound.
Aviation authorities imposed flight restrictions over the army reserve center for security reasons until 6 December.
Federal authorities has intensified deportation operations in the city in recent weeks, sparking protests, especially near an processing facility in Broadview.
Earlier this week, Illinois and Chicago initiated legal action targeting the administration, attempting to halt the National Guard deployment, urging a court to stop what they describe as "the president's proclaimed 'Battle'" on the city and state, labeling it "illegal and risky".
A court hearing on their case is set for the next day.
The mayor also signed an executive order on that day prohibiting ICE officers and others from using city-owned property as staging areas for deportation efforts.
Pritzker has accused Trump of using military forces as "political props" and "chess pieces".
At a news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker said that Trump is trying to "justify and normalize the deployment of military personnel under his direct command."
The nearly 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act restricts the army's involvement in enforcing domestic laws. Yet, Trump has stated he would be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows a president to dispatch active duty military in states that are unable to suppress an insurrection or are defying federal law.
After beginning his new administration, Trump has dispatched or discussed deploying military units to at least 10 urban centers, including Baltimore; Washington DC; New Orleans and West Coast locations like Bay Area and Southern California municipalities, arguing that the military presence is necessary to fight violence and protect immigration agents.
Data indicates that most violent crime across the US has declined in the past few years. In the city, for example, homicides were reduced 31% to 278 through late summer, per police data.
New survey data published on Wednesday revealed that most Americans disapprove of the deployment of troops without an foreign danger.
