A political standoff intensified Sunday over U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to crack down on crime and illegal immigration in Chicago. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on CBS’ Face the Nation that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations would be strengthened in Chicago and other cities, though she declined to share details. She added that Trump would decide whether to deploy National Guard troops.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker accused Trump of using the deployment of federal forces as a pretext to interfere in the 2026 midterm elections, warning that the president could try to halt or manipulate the process. “He’ll just claim that there’s some problem with an election, and then he’s got troops on the ground that can take control,” Pritzker said. The White House pushed back, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson arguing that Pritzker had failed to address Chicago’s crime problem.
The dispute follows Trump’s recent moves in Washington, D.C., where he sent National Guard troops, federalized the local police, and deployed federal officers as part of a broader public safety campaign. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has already signed an executive order blocking local police from assisting federal operations. Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have previously described such deployments as “purposefully inflammatory,” while military leaders have warned of the social and political risks of involving troops in law enforcement.
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