Trump Deploys Federal Forces—States Push Back Against Abuse of Power – American Civil Liberties Union

Trump Deploys Federal Forces—States Push Back Against Abuse of Power  American Civil Liberties Union

Trump is using the military and federal law enforcement to build out a paramilitary policing force across the country. The Trump administration continues to escalate its deployment of military troops and federal law enforcement to cities across the country. We are witnessing the build out of a national paramilitary policing force that could be used to intimidate people and consolidate President Donald Trump’s power. This week alone, the administration placed 200 Oregon National Guard under federal control and deployed them to Portland, following the president’s false and bizarre claim that the city is “war ravaged” and his threat to authorize “full force, if necessary.” Oregon’s governor, as well as the city of Portland, immediately objected and have since sued.

The president also told a large assembly of senior military officials that he intends to deploy troops to Chicago and said that troops should use American cities as “training grounds” for the military. Already in Chicago, masked federal law enforcement agents armed with rifles roam the city’s tourist districts and the southside. Federal agents have arrested people who recorded their actions. Ten miles west of Chicago, camouflage-clad and masked federal agents—some reportedly positioned like snipers from the rooftop of the building—fired tear gas and pepper balls against a crowd of 100 protestors and journalists outside of the Broadview ICE facility. Federal