Former President Donald Trump on midweek called for the incarceration of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, alleging them of failing to protect ICE agents.
"Chicago's Mayor belongs behind bars for endangering Immigration agents!" Trump wrote on his platform Wednesday morning. "The Illinois governor too!"
The two leaders identify as the Democratic faction.
These remarks coincide with the arrival of state military troops in the Chicago region following directives from the federal administration, notwithstanding vehement protests from Illinois authorities such as Pritzker and Johnson.
"This marks yet another attempt where Trump attempted to have an African American leader wrongfully arrested," Mayor Johnson stated on that day. "I am staying put."
The governor responded via online channels, declaring: "I refuse to yield. Trump is now calling for imprisonment of democratically chosen representatives checking his power. What remains on the path to full-blown autocracy?"
As of midweek, National Guard units from the Lone Star State had reached the Elwood training facility, a military installation approximately 80 kilometers from the city, as the federal government pushes forward with its hardline urban crime policy and mass deportation efforts.
Trump has called Chicago a "crime-ridden hellhole", despite official statistics indicate significant drops in many offenses, such as murders.
On Wednesday, 200 state guard members were expected to deploy to the Chicago area, with another 300 Illinois guard personnel readying for deployment, according to reports. Authorities indicated the troops would not perform law enforcement duties but would protect federal immigration agents and their facilities.
Military personnel in combat attire with Texas national guard patches were spotted at the military facility in Elwood. Vehicles labeled "Emergency Disaster Services" delivered portable toilets and essential items. Mobile units were set up in lines. Additional fencing was installed around the compound.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight restrictions over the army reserve center for security reasons until early December.
The administration has intensified immigration enforcement in the city in the past month, triggering demonstrations, especially near an immigration center in Broadview.
Earlier this week, Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit against the federal government, attempting to halt the National Guard deployment, urging a federal judge to stop what they describe as "Trump's long-declared 'War'" on the city and state, labeling it "illegal and risky".
Legal proceedings on their case is scheduled for the next day.
The mayor also issued an directive on that day prohibiting ICE officers and related personnel from using city-owned property as staging areas for enforcement actions.
The governor has accused the president of using military forces as "staged tools" and "chess pieces".
During a press briefing on the previous day, he said that Trump is attempting to "rationalize and make acceptable the deployment of armed soldiers under his direct command."
The historic federal law limits the army's involvement in enforcing domestic laws. However, Trump has stated he would be willing to activate the emergency powers, which permits a president to dispatch regular army in regions that are unable to suppress an insurrection or are defying federal law.
After beginning his new administration, the president has sent or discussed sending military units to at least 10 cities, including Baltimore; Washington DC; New Orleans and West Coast locations like Bay Area and Southern California municipalities, claiming that the armed forces is necessary to fight violence and defend immigration agents.
Statistics indicates that most violent crime across the US has declined in recent years. In the city, for instance, murders were down 31% to 278 through late summer, according to law enforcement reports.
New survey data published on Wednesday found that the majority of US citizens oppose the deployment of troops without an external threat.
