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President Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago, saying the move is needed to control crime and protect federal facilities.
The decision followed a violent clash between protesters and immigration officers in which an armed woman was shot after cars rammed law enforcement vehicles.
The woman’s injuries were unclear. DHS said she drove herself to a local hospital.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other Democratic leaders condemned the deployment as an abuse of power, accusing Trump of “manufacturing a crisis.” A federal judge in Portland, Oregon, had earlier blocked a similar deployment, saying the administration’s actions blurred the line between civil and military power.
White House officials said the move was necessary to stop “lawlessness” in cities where governors had “refused to act.” Trump told military leaders he wants U.S. cities used as “training grounds” to fight “the enemy from within.” Critics said this marked a dangerous expansion of presidential power over domestic law enforcement.
Chicago has seen rising protests over immigration enforcement, but violent crime has actually dropped by a third in the past year, according to the Council on Criminal Justice. It remains unclear whether any troops have yet arrived in the city.
Chicago is one of the most important cities in the United States because it is a major hub for finance, manufacturing, transport, and culture.
It sits on Lake Michigan and serves as a crossroads for rail, air, and shipping routes linking the Midwest to the rest of the country.
Known for its architecture, universities, and influence in politics and music, it is the third-largest U.S. city. Chicago’s population is ethnically diverse: roughly one-third White, one-third Black, and one-third Hispanic, with growing Asian and immigrant communities from around the world.
Sources: CNN, BBC.
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