The Trump administration is reportedly planning to send federal police officers from the Department of Homeland Security to Chicago to help crack down on violent crime in the city. According to CNN, DHS is preparing to deploy 150 officers to the city for at least 60 days.
The officers would be tasked with helping local police crack down on illegal gun sales to help curb the increasing gun violence in the city. They will also help officials locate people who have outstanding warrants.
President Donald Trump suggested that he will send federal officers into other large cities, which are mostly controlled by Democrats.
“I’m going to do something — that, I can tell you,” Trump told reporters. “Because we’re not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of these — Oakland is a mess. We’re not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats.”
The Trump administration is facing criticism for deploying federal officers to Portland, Oregon after more than 50 days of protests in the city. Local officials have said they did not ask for federal help ending the protests, which have at times turned violent. They have demanded the officers leave the city, and have asked for investigations into their tactics.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that she does not want federal officers patrolling the streets of her city.
"I have great concerns about that particularly given the track record in the city of Portland. I spent a lot of time yesterday talking with the mayor or Portland to get a sense of what has happened there. We don't need federal agents without any insignia taking people off the streets and holding them, I think, unlawfully. That's not what we need," she said.
According to WLS-TV, the Department of Justice said the officers in Chicago would not be tasked with quelling protests and riots. Instead, they will be focused on helping police reduce violent crime throughout the city.
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