Trump to send federal agents to Chicago, maybe other cities

President Donald Trump is planning to deploy federal agents to Chicago and possibly other Democrat-run cities as he continues to assert federal power and use the Department of Homeland Security in unprecedented, politicized ways.


PTI | Washington DC | Updated: 22-07-2020 01:05 IST | Created: 22-07-2020 00:58 IST
Trump to send federal agents to Chicago, maybe other cities
US President Donald Trump (File pic) Image Credit: ANI
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President Donald Trump is planning to deploy federal agents to Chicago and possibly other Democrat-run cities as he continues to assert federal power and use the Department of Homeland Security in unprecedented, politicized ways. DHS is slated to send about 150 Homeland Security Investigations agents to Chicago to help local law enforcement deal with a spike in crime, according to an official with direct knowledge of the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

The agents, which are generally used to conduct investigations into human trafficking, drugs, and weapons smuggling, were expected to stay in Chicago at least two months, according to the official. It's not clear exactly how they will back up local law enforcement or when they will arrive, but they will make arrests for federal crimes, not local ones. It's possible they may be deployed to other locations as well.

A spokesman for Homeland Security said the department does not comment on “allegedly leaked operations.” In a tweet Sunday, Trump blamed local leaders for violence in Chicago and other cities. “The Radical Left Democrats, who totally control Biden, will destroy our Country as we know it. Unimaginably bad things would happen to America,” Trump tweeted, referring to his likely Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. “Look at Portland, where the pols are just fine with 50 days of anarchy. We sent in help. Look at New York, Chicago, Philadelphia. NO!” The move is Trump's latest effort to use an agency — created after the Sept. 11 attacks to protect the country from terrorist threats — to supplement local law enforcement in ways that have alarmed critics. Trump has already deployed agents to Portland under the mantle of protecting federal buildings from protesters, drawing intense criticism from local leaders who say they have only exacerbated tensions.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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