By S. Burke, Staff Reporter
Chicago, Illinois — President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago, escalating a standoff with Illinois officials over federal immigration enforcement and public safety. The move comes amid intensifying protests outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities and growing concerns about violent clashes between demonstrators and federal agents.
Gang Member Arrested for Murder Plot
Federal authorities in Chicago have arrested Juan Espinoza Martinez, a suspected high-ranking member of the Latin Kings street gang, in connection with a murder-for-hire plot targeting a senior U.S. Border Patrol official. Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, allegedly offered a $10,000 bounty to assassinate Chief Gregory Bovino, who was overseeing immigration enforcement under “Operation Midway Blitz.”
According to the criminal complaint unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Martinez used Snapchat to circulate messages soliciting information and violence against Bovino, including a photo of the officer and the phrases “2K on information when you get him” and “10K if you take him down.” Investigators say the plot escalated following a police-involved shooting in Brighton Park, prompting Martinez to mobilize gang members to patrol and defend Latin Kings territory. Federal officials condemned the scheme as “an attack on the rule of law,” and emphasized that threats against law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Federal Action Sparks Local Backlash
The Pentagon confirmed the deployment in a memo released Sunday, stating that troops will be stationed in areas “where violent demonstrations are occurring or likely to occur.” The mission is expected to last 60 days and includes personnel from both the Illinois and Texas National Guard.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have publicly condemned the deployment, calling it an “unauthorized occupation” and vowing to challenge the move in court. “The federal government is manufacturing a crisis,” Pritzker told CNN. “They’re turning peaceful protests into war zones.”
Legal and Political Fallout
Illinois and the City of Chicago filed a lawsuit on October 6 to block the deployment, arguing that it violates state sovereignty and the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of military force in domestic law enforcement. A federal judge declined to issue an immediate injunction but scheduled a hearing for later this week.
White House officials defended the move, citing threats to federal agents and property. “Amidst ongoing lawlessness, President Trump is exercising his lawful authority to protect federal officers,” said spokeswoman Abigail Johnson.
A City on Edge
Chicago has seen a surge in immigration-related protests following expanded ICE raids under “Operation Midway Blitz.” Demonstrators accuse federal agents of excessive force, including a recent incident in Brighton Park where Border Patrol agents shot and wounded a woman allegedly involved in a vehicular assault.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the city as a “war zone,” while local leaders insist the federal response is disproportionate and inflammatory.
As legal battles unfold and troops begin to mobilize, Chicago finds itself at the center of a national debate over federal authority, immigration policy, and the militarization of domestic crises.
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