On Sept. 6, 2025, Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans moved to steady community events and law-enforcement plans after President Trump said he could send National Guard troops to those cities to address crime; local officials and organizers are preparing for possible deployments while noting reported declines in overall crime rates in the affected cities.
Key takeaways
- President Trump named Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans this week as possible sites for National Guard deployments to address crime.
- Community groups in Chicago are increasing volunteer staffing and handing out “know your rights” materials ahead of Mexican Independence Day events.
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker vowed legal challenges if federal agents and unmarked vehicles appear in Latino neighborhoods.
- Maryland officials are weighing legal options while adding state law-enforcement resources to Baltimore.
- Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry welcomed potential federal help; New Orleans city officials emphasized progress from local policing strategies.
- Earlier National Guard or federal deployments occurred in Los Angeles in June and in Washington, D.C., in August.
- At least one Mexican Independence Day celebration in Chicago was postponed to November over concerns about raids and troop presence.
Verified facts
President Trump publicly mentioned Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans in statements this week as cities he might target for National Guard or federal troop deployments aimed at curbing crime. Local leaders and community organizers have since activated contingency plans for events and public safety.
In Chicago, organizers of a Mexican Independence celebration said they would bolster staffing with volunteers and distribute know-your-rights cards; one organizer, Vicky Lugo, told local media, “We won’t let anyone rain on our parade.” Some other cultural events in the city will continue as scheduled, per local reporting.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told reporters he expects the possible use of “unidentified agents in unmarked vehicles” in Latino neighborhoods and said the state is prepared to challenge unlawful federal actions in court. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott have discussed legal responses and announced additional state law-enforcement support, including personnel from the Maryland State Police and Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
In Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry signaled support for federal assistance; he posted a message on X referencing accepting help from the administration. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office and the NOPD issued a joint statement highlighting recent progress in violence reduction but did not explicitly endorse or oppose a federal troop presence.
Context & impact
The push to use federal or Guard forces follows deployments earlier this year: National Guard activity or federal operations were reported in Los Angeles in June and in Washington, D.C., in August as part of the administration’s broader public-safety initiative.
Local reactions reflect political and operational divides. Democratic governors in Illinois and Maryland have signaled legal resistance to some federal tactics, while the Republican governor in Louisiana has welcomed assistance. These differences could shape the timing, scope and legal framework for any deployment.
Community organizers say the prospect of troops or federal agents has immediate effects on civic life: at least one Mexican Independence Day celebration in Chicago was postponed to November, and other organizers are increasing outreach and legal-rights information to attendees.
Practical impacts could include increased law-enforcement presence at large public events, legal challenges over jurisdiction and authority, and heightened community concern—especially in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.
Official statements
“We are ready to fight troop deployments in court and we will do everything possible to ensure that agents operating inside the confines of this state do so in a legal and ethical manner.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
“The City of New Orleans and NOPD remain committed to sustaining this momentum, ensuring that every neighborhood continues to feel the impact of these combined efforts.”
New Orleans Mayor’s Office / NOPD
Unconfirmed
- Exact timing, size and rules of engagement for any National Guard deployment to the named cities have not been publicly released.
- Specific locations or target neighborhoods for potential federal operations are not confirmed beyond general references by officials.
- Reports of planned immigration raids tied directly to a troop deployment remain unverified.
Bottom line
City leaders, governors and community groups are preparing for several possible scenarios after the president named Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans as potential sites for Guard deployments. Any actual movement of troops would raise legal questions and likely prompt court challenges, while immediate effects include event adjustments, increased community outreach and closer coordination among city, state and federal agencies.