Trump Administration Deploys National Guard to "War Zone" Cities Despite Democratic Opposition and Legal Challenges

The Trump administration has labeled Chicago a "war zone" to justify deploying military forces against the wishes of local Democratic officials, while a judge has blocked similar troop deployments to another Democratic-led city.

A growing political crisis is unfolding across the United States, with President Donald Trump's anti-crime and migration enforcement efforts clashing with Democratic opposition who claim these actions represent an authoritarian overreach.

In the latest development, Trump authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard soldiers to Chicago, America's third-largest city, despite opposition from elected leaders including the mayor and Governor JB Pritzker.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended this decision on Fox News, stating that Chicago is "a war zone."

Governor Pritzker countered on CNN's "State of the Union," accusing Republicans of trying to "create the war zone, so that they can send in even more troops," adding that "they need to get the heck out."

A CBS poll indicated that 58 percent of Americans oppose National Guard deployments to cities.

Trump, who recently spoke about using the military for a "war from within," continues his hardline approach. He falsely claimed that "Portland is burning to the ground. It's insurrectionists all over the place."

House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the president's rhetoric, describing Washington D.C. as a "literal war zone" requiring National Guard presence—a characterization that contradicts reality.

Trump's efforts to deploy military domestically faced a setback when a court ruled such action in Portland, Oregon was unlawful.

Despite Trump repeatedly calling Portland "war-ravaged," US District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary block, stating "the president's determination was simply untethered to the facts."

"This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law," Judge Immergut wrote in her ruling.

Although Portland has experienced some attacks on federal officers and property, the Trump administration failed to demonstrate "that those episodes of violence were part of an organised attempt to overthrow the government as a whole," which would be necessary to justify military force.

Trump advisor Stephen Miller called the judge's order "legal insurrection."

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to sue over Trump's deployment of California's National Guard to Oregon, stating: "His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn't about crime. It's about power. He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego."

The enforcement crackdown is being led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is rapidly expanding in both personnel and responsibilities.

ICE operations across Democratic-run cities have involved masked, armed agents in unmarked vehicles targeting residential neighborhoods and businesses, triggering protests.

Tensions in Chicago escalated when a federal officer shot a motorist who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed was armed and had rammed a patrol vehicle.

DHS officials reported that ICE officers also shot and killed 38-year-old immigrant Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during a September 12 traffic stop, alleging he attempted to flee and dragged an ICE officer with his vehicle.