South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Describes Chicago a 'War Zone' After Federal Officers Injure Woman
Kristi Noem, acting as President Trump's homeland security secretary, labeled Chicago as "a war zone" on Sunday. This occurred after federal agents shot a woman, and the governor of Illinois accused the administration of fueling the situation rather than resolving it.
The Governor's Appearance on Television
Speaking on Fox News Sunday morning, Noem criticized the Chicago mayor, Brandon Johnson. The mayor has been a vocal critic of the federal immigration operations and sending of the national guard in Illinois, a measure he called "irrational and harmful".
"It’s wrong, penalties are necessary for that and for leaders that speak out and knowingly lie about the situation on the ground," remarked. "Chicago is a battlefield and he’s lying so that criminals can go in there and destroy people’s lives."
Government Action and The President's Order
These comments came after Trump’s authorization to send hundreds of personnel of the state guard to Chicago, with orders to safeguard government agents and facilities. The move occurred just weeks after national guard troops were dispatched to Washington, where the commander-in-chief took control of the local police in what he described as a "crackdown" on crime, a pattern now extending to a string of other US cities. "We’re going to be doing Chicago likely soon," the president stated previously.
Noem's Justification of Administration Measures
The governor supported the administration’s course of action, insisting on television that locals backed the government intervention. "Residents know that in areas we've entered we have increased freedom," she remarked. "People are much safer, we have got a thousand criminals that are no longer roaming of Chicago, simply because we’ve been there."
Illinois Governor Governor Pritzker Responds
Speaking on a CNN program Sunday, the Democratic Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, accused the administration of fueling the problem rather than solving it. "They are the ones who are making it a war zone," he said.
"They must leave of Chicago. If they’re not going to focus on the most dangerous criminals, as the commander-in-chief promised they are going to do, they need to get the heck out."
Border Patrol Incident Information
Federal officers on Saturday shot and injured a woman while shooting at someone who attempted to hit them. The injured female was a American and was armed with a firearm, DHS spokesperson an official stated, noting that the woman was alleged in a US Customs and Border Protection intelligence bulletin last week of doxing agents.
Pritzker's Criticism on Online Platform
Pritzker also condemned the deployment in a post on X on Saturday, writing: "The federal security agency presented a demand: mobilize your forces, or we shall." He labeled the decision "absolutely outrageous and un-American," and added that it had been made "against our will".