Ex-President Donald J. Trump on midweek called for the incarceration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, alleging them of failing to protect federal immigration officers.
"The city's leader belongs behind bars for endangering ICE Officers!" Trump wrote on social media Wednesday morning. "The Illinois governor as well!"
The two leaders are members of the Democratic faction.
Trump's statements coincide with the arrival of state military troops in the Chicago region following directives from the federal administration, despite strong objections from Illinois authorities such as the governor and mayor.
"This represents not the first instance where Trump attempted to have an African American leader wrongfully arrested," Mayor Johnson stated on that day. "I am staying put."
Pritzker also replied via online channels, stating: "I will not back down. Now Trump is calling for imprisonment of elected officials checking his power. What remains on the road toward full-blown authoritarianism?"
As of midweek, military units from Texas had arrived at the Elwood army reserve center, an army base roughly 50 miles from the city, as the federal government pushes forward with its hardline urban crime policy and mass deportation efforts.
Trump has called Chicago a "crime-ridden disaster zone", despite police data indicate significant drops in many offenses, including homicides.
On Wednesday, 200 state guard members were expected to deploy to the Chicago area, with another 300 state military personnel readying for deployment, according to sources. Authorities reportedly stated the soldiers would avoid police functions but would protect ICE officers and government buildings.
Military personnel wearing uniforms with Texas national guard patches were observed at the military facility in Elwood. Trucks marked "Disaster Relief" delivered portable toilets and essential items. Trailers were arranged in lines. Additional fencing was installed around the compound.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed no-fly zones over the army reserve center for security reasons until 6 December.
The administration has escalated deportation operations in the city in the past month, sparking protests, particularly near an processing facility in Broadview.
Earlier this week, Illinois and Chicago initiated legal action targeting the administration, seeking to block the National Guard deployment, urging a court to stop what they describe as "the president's proclaimed 'Battle'" on the city and state, labeling it "unlawful and risky".
Legal proceedings on their case is scheduled for the next day.
Mayor Johnson also signed an directive on that day banning ICE officers and related personnel from using city-owned property as staging areas for enforcement actions.
Pritzker has accused Trump of using military forces as "staged tools" and "chess pieces".
At a news conference on Tuesday, Pritzker said that the president is attempting to "justify and make acceptable the deployment of armed soldiers under his personal authority."
The historic Posse Comitatus Act restricts the military's role in civilian law enforcement. However, the president has said he would be prepared to activate the Insurrection Act, which allows a president to dispatch regular army in regions that are failing to suppress an insurrection or are defying national authority.
After beginning his second term, Trump has dispatched or discussed deploying troops to over ten cities, such as major metropolitan areas and California cities like Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, claiming that the military presence is essential to fight violence and defend immigration agents.
Statistics indicates that serious offenses nationwide has decreased in the past few years. In Chicago, for example, homicides were reduced 31% to under three hundred through August, according to law enforcement reports.
New survey data released on Wednesday found that the majority of US citizens oppose the sending of troops without an external threat.
