Federal law enforcement and National Guard troops expanded their presence in several U.S. cities over the weekend.
According to reports, armed federal agents were spotted patrolling downtown Chicago and National Guard troops were deployed in Portland this weekend, as task forces are set to head to Memphis, marking an escalation in Trump’s “law and order” agenda.
In Chicago, heavily armed agents in tactical gear, believed to be from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were seen patrolling the streets on Sunday (September 28). The unannounced increase in federal law enforcement stunned residents, who recorded videos as agents walked past restaurants and stores.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the deployment “intimidation” and “unwarranted.”
“Chicagoans and visitors are being intimidated by masked federal agents flaunting automatic weapons for no apparent reason,” Johnson said in a statement.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker echoed the sentiment, calling the move a “show of force” that is “hurting our businesses and our communities.”
The Department of Homeland Security said the Chicago deployment was part of a targeted effort to arrest undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Agent Gregory Bovino, who helped lead a similar crackdown in Los Angeles, claimed “several arrests” were made, but declined to clarify whether downtown patrols were tied to specific warrants.
Tensions escalated between protestors and agents, who fired pepper bullets and tear gas into crowds demonstrating outside an ICE facility in Broadview, west of Chicago.
On Saturday (September 27), Trump also ordered 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the need to protect an ICE facility he described as being under siege by “violent protests.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek condemned the deployment, refusing to activate state troops and accusing Trump of creating a “false narrative meant to provoke conflict.”
“Putting our own military on our streets is an abuse of power and a disservice to our communities and our service members,” Kotek said. “It is unlawful. And it will make Oregonians less safe.”
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a federal lawsuit Sunday, arguing Trump exceeded his authority under the Constitution by deploying troops without the state’s consent.
“Sending in 200 National Guard troops to guard a single building is not normal,” Rayfield said. “If you had a concern about safety at your own home, you’d make a few calls and fill the gaps—not call in an army.”
In Memphis, the Trump administration said it’s preparing to send a federal task force to address what it calls “out-of-control crime.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, said up to 150 National Guard members may be deployed, along with 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers. The move has sparked fear among the community members, who worry that an increased ICE presence could lead to racial profiling or detentions of individuals legally in the U.S.
On Saturday, dozens of residents gathered at City Hall to protest the planned deployment. Activists called instead for more funding for education, youth programs, crime prevention, and health care over militarized policing.
Johnson linked the crackdowns to broader threats to civil rights:
“This is not about safety—it’s about control,” he said. “Sending armed agents into our cities under vague pretenses is not justice. It’s fear politics.”
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