Ex-President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday demanded the incarceration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, alleging them of not safeguarding federal immigration officers.
"Chicago's Mayor belongs behind bars for failing to secure Immigration agents!" Trump wrote on social media early Wednesday. "Governor Pritzker as well!"
The two leaders are members of the Democratic faction.
These remarks coincide with the deployment of state military personnel in the Windy City area under orders from the current government, despite vehement protests from state officials including Pritzker and Johnson.
"This represents not the first instance where Trump has sought to have an African American leader wrongfully arrested," Mayor Johnson stated on that day. "I'm not going anywhere."
Pritzker also replied via online channels, declaring: "I will not yield. Now Trump is demanding arrests of democratically chosen representatives resisting his authority. What's next on the road toward full-blown autocracy?"
By Wednesday morning, military troops from Texas had reached the Elwood army reserve center, an army base approximately 80 kilometers from the city, as the federal government pushes forward with its hardline crime strategy and immigration enforcement operations.
Trump has labeled Chicago a "crime-ridden hellhole", despite police data indicate significant drops in many offenses, such as murders.
On Wednesday, two hundred Texas National Guard troops were expected to deploy to the region, with another 300 state military forces preparing to mobilize, per reports. Officials reportedly stated the troops would not perform police functions but would secure federal immigration agents and their facilities.
Military personnel in combat attire with state guard insignia were observed at the US army reserve center in the town. Trucks labeled "Emergency Disaster Services" delivered portable toilets and other supplies. Trailers were set up in rows. Extra barriers was installed around the compound.
Aviation authorities imposed flight restrictions over the army reserve center for safety concerns until 6 December.
Federal authorities has escalated deportation operations in the city in recent weeks, sparking protests, especially near an immigration center in a Chicago suburb.
On Monday, state and city filed a lawsuit targeting the federal government, seeking to block the military dispatch, asking a court to stop what they call "the president's proclaimed 'Battle'" on the city and state, labeling it "illegal and risky".
Legal proceedings on their case is scheduled for Thursday.
Mayor Johnson also issued an executive order on Monday prohibiting ICE officers and others from using municipal facilities as staging areas for enforcement actions.
Pritzker has accused the president of using troops as "staged tools" and "pawns".
During a press briefing on the previous day, he said that Trump is trying to "justify and make acceptable the presence of armed soldiers under his personal authority."
The historic federal law limits the army's involvement in civilian law enforcement. However, Trump has said he would be prepared to activate the emergency powers, which permits a commander-in-chief to dispatch regular army in states that are failing to suppress an insurrection or are defying national authority.
Since starting his new administration, the president has sent or mentioned deploying troops to at least 10 cities, such as Baltimore; Washington DC; New Orleans and West Coast locations like Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, claiming that the military presence is essential to fight violence and defend immigration agents.
Data shows that serious offenses across the US has declined in recent years. In the city, for instance, murders were reduced nearly one-third to under three hundred through August, per police data.
New survey data released on that day found that most Americans oppose the deployment of troops without an external threat.
