MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While federal judges have blocked President Donald Trump’s attempts to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago and Portland, troops have already begun patrolling parts of Memphis, Tennessee — with support from the state’s Republican governor, Bill Lee.
On Friday, Guard troops — dressed in military fatigues, bulletproof vests, and visibly armed — were seen patrolling near the Bass Pro Shops and the Memphis Welcome Center along the Mississippi River. The exact number of troops deployed remains unclear.
Trump has floated or initiated troop deployments in multiple cities, including Baltimore, Washington D.C., New Orleans, and across California — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland — under the stated goal of supporting immigration enforcement and protecting federal facilities. However, courts and critics say the efforts may violate state sovereignty and constitutional protections.
Memphis Deployment Moves Forward
Trump announced plans to send troops to Memphis on September 15, and Gov. Lee quickly backed the move, framing it as part of a broader federal crackdown on crime. The troops remain under state command, avoiding the legal challenges faced elsewhere.
Democratic Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he did not request the deployment and voiced cautious support — hoping the operation will focus on violent crime rather than intimidate the public.
Federal agencies involved in the operation — including the FBI, DEA, ICE, and U.S. Marshals — report hundreds of arrests and over 2,800 traffic citations since the task force launched on September 29.
Chicago Deployment Blocked by Federal Judge
A federal judge in Chicago halted Trump’s attempt to send Guard troops into the city, siding with Illinois leaders who argued the move was unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge April Perry ruled Thursday that the deployment violated the 10th Amendment, which protects state authority, and the 14th Amendment, which guarantees due process and equal protection.
In her written opinion Friday, Perry warned against federal overreach in domestic law enforcement:
“Not even the Founding Father most ardently in favor of a strong federal government — Alexander Hamilton — believed that one state’s militia could be sent to another state for the purposes of political retribution.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker praised the decision:
“There is no credible evidence of a rebellion in Illinois. And no place for the National Guard in the streets of cities like Chicago.”
Oregon Court Also Blocks Federal Troops
A similar legal battle is underway in Portland, Oregon, where a federal court previously blocked the deployment of out-of-state troops. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on the case Thursday.
Lt. Cmdr. Theresa Meadows, spokesperson for U.S. Northern Command, confirmed that troops assigned to Chicago and Portland are currently not conducting any operational activities.
Federal Tensions Rise in Illinois
Despite the court ruling, 500 Guard troops from Texas and Illinois arrived this week at a U.S. Army Reserve base in Elwood, near Chicago, for a 60-day activation.
On Thursday, they began patrolling outside the ICE facility in Broadview, where protests have taken place in recent weeks. A federal judge has since ordered the removal of an 8-foot fence installed by ICE, ruling it blocked a public street without permission.
Additionally, another federal judge temporarily restricted federal agents from using riot control weapons against peaceful protesters and journalists near the facility. Agents must also now wear visible ID badges.
Senators Denied Entry to ICE Facility
Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth were denied access to the ICE center on Friday, despite citing their oversight authority as members of Congress.
“It is appalling that two United States senators are not allowed to visit this facility,” Duckworth said. “What are you afraid of?”
“Something is going on in there they don’t want us to see,” Durbin added.
Criminal Charges Filed in Border Patrol Incident
Meanwhile, in Chicago, federal prosecutors filed grand jury indictments against Marimar Martinez, 30, and Anthony Ruiz, 21, accused of using their vehicles to box in a Border Patrol agent last weekend. The agent reportedly fired five shots at Martinez, who was hospitalized. Both individuals now face federal charges for assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
With court challenges mounting and political tensions rising, Trump’s push to involve federal troops in city-level law enforcement remains one of the most polarizing aspects of his domestic policy — sparking fierce legal, political, and public debate across the country.
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