Chicago has become the latest battleground in the escalating conflict between President Donald Trump and local Democratic officials after he ordered the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to the city. The move followed a violent clash between protesters and federal immigration agents over the weekend.
The incident occurred on Saturday outside a federal immigration facility in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago. According to reports from The Washington Post, hundreds of demonstrators gathered to block vehicles from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), protesting the agency's recent enforcement actions.
The situation escalated when, as described by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson McLoughlin, protesters driving approximately 10 cars surrounded and struck an ICE vehicle, trapping the agents inside. McLoughlin stated that the ICE agents, unable to move their vehicle, exited and fired their weapons in self-defense, wounding a woman who was in a car and in possession of a semi-automatic firearm. The woman, identified as a U.S. citizen, drove herself to a nearby hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.
McLoughlin also accused Chicago police of leaving the scene and refusing to assist ICE in controlling the situation. The Chicago police stated that the case has been handed over to federal authorities as required.
Citing the incident, President Trump swiftly authorized the deployment. White House spokesperson Judd Deere stated on Saturday that "the president will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness occurring in American cities."
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Illinois Democrats. Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the administration's approach, accusing it of attempting to "federalize" the state's National Guard. He received a "war department-style" ultimatum from the administration, which he found "outrageous and not the American way."
Governor Pritzker emphasized that the deployment was not about the president's safety, but rather about politics. Echoing his sentiment, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin criticized the move as a shameful chapter in American history, accusing Trump of seeking to spread fear rather than combat crime.
Over the past month, the Trump administration has significantly increased the number of ICE agents in Chicago, leading to the arrest of hundreds of suspected undocumented immigrants and repeated clashes with the local community. The newly deployed National Guard troops are expected to focus on protecting federal personnel and facilities; however, it remains unclear whether they will be armed.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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