U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order on Monday, September 15, to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, under the excuse of “alarming” crime levels highlited by the White House.

RELATED: Bloomberg Report Flags Surge in U.S. Political Violence Amid Rising Polarization

The president stated that several federal agencies would also be involved, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Trump has threatened to deploy federal forces in other cities governed by Democratic mayors—despite their opposition—such as Baltimore or Chicago, which he said would be “the next” to receive troops.

Trump also announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he is ready to impose a state of emergency in Washington, D.C., and even assume direct control of the city.

On August 11, Trump had deployed 800 National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.

Several social organizations across multiple states, such as the Coalition for Migrant and Refugee Rights, stressed that they will resist any attempt at militarization and will not be intimidated by Trump’s threats. They warned that such an action could trigger serious confrontations.

On September 5, the National Guard announced the mobilization of approximately 95 troops in Louisiana to support operations by ICE.

In this context, activists are organizing a demonstration in New Orleans on September 16 to protest the deployment of the National Guard, comparing this measure to other troop deployments ordered by the Trump administration in different parts of the country, such as Washington, D.C., as well as to the intensification of immigration crackdowns in the Chicago area.

Police operations in Chicago reached deadly levels on September 12, when ICE agents fatally shot undocumented immigrant Silverio Villegas-González after he allegedly drove his vehicle toward the agents.

IN THIS ARTICLE