Former President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday demanded the incarceration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, accusing them of failing to protect ICE agents.
"Chicago's Mayor should be jailed for failing to secure ICE Officers!" Trump wrote on his platform early Wednesday. "The Illinois governor too!"
The two leaders are members of the Democratic faction.
Trump's statements come alongside the arrival of state military troops in the Windy City area under orders from the federal administration, despite strong objections from state officials including the governor and mayor.
"This marks yet another attempt where Trump has sought to have an African American leader wrongfully arrested," Johnson responded on Wednesday. "I'm not going put."
Pritzker also replied via social platforms, stating: "I refuse to back down. Trump is now calling for imprisonment of elected officials checking his power. What remains on the road toward full-blown autocracy?"
By Wednesday morning, military units from Texas had arrived at the Elwood training facility, an army base roughly 80 kilometers from Chicago, as the federal government pushes forward with its aggressive crime strategy and mass deportation efforts.
Trump has labeled Chicago a "crime-ridden disaster zone", even though official statistics 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 an additional three hundred Illinois guard forces readying for deployment, per reports. Officials reportedly stated the soldiers would not perform law enforcement duties but would protect ICE officers and government buildings.
Military personnel in combat attire with Texas national guard insignia were observed at the military facility in Elwood. Vehicles labeled "Disaster Relief" dropped off sanitation facilities and other supplies. Mobile units were set up in rows. Additional fencing 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 immigration enforcement in the city in recent weeks, triggering protests, especially near an processing facility in Broadview.
On Monday, Illinois and Chicago initiated legal action against the administration, attempting to halt the National Guard deployment, asking a court to stop what they call "the president's proclaimed 'War'" on the city and state, calling it "illegal and risky".
A court hearing on their case is set for Thursday.
The mayor also issued an directive on that day banning federal immigration agents and others from using municipal facilities as staging areas for deportation efforts.
The governor has accused the president of using military forces as "staged tools" and "pawns".
At a news conference on the previous day, Pritzker said that the president is trying to "justify and normalize the deployment of armed soldiers under his personal authority."
The historic federal law restricts the military's role in civilian law enforcement. Yet, Trump has stated he would be willing to activate the emergency powers, which permits a commander-in-chief to dispatch active duty military in states that are failing to put down an uprising or are resisting federal law.
After beginning his new administration, the president has sent or mentioned sending military units to at least 10 cities, such as Baltimore; Washington DC; New Orleans and West Coast locations like Bay Area and Southern California municipalities, arguing that the armed forces is essential to fight violence and protect ICE officers.
Data shows that most violent crime nationwide has decreased in the past few years. In Chicago, for instance, homicides were reduced 31% to under three hundred through August, per police data.
A recent poll published on Wednesday revealed that most Americans oppose the sending of troops without an foreign danger.
