The Trump Administration declared that the National Guard would be deployed to Washington D.C. after declaring a Crime Emergency in D.C. on Aug. 11, 2025. The Administration is now saying that Chicago is next on the list of cities to receive troops.
Virginia resident and Washington D.C. commuter, Margaret Jones*, expressed an increased unease about the presence of the National Guard troops around the D.C.
“It’s not affecting my daily routine, but it is a bit unsettling that this is happening,” Jones said. “[The troops are] being forced on the city and not in response to a natural disaster or other emergency.”
Guard members have been stationed mainly around landmarks and other tourist areas. They have also been seen around public transportation hubs and with local police. However, these locations are not the crime ridden areas of the city.
“I’ve seen [the troops] most by Union Station and other tourist areas but the numbers seem to change, so they probably move a bit,” Jones said. “The troops look really bored, likely wondering why they are here.”
The Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, has issued statements and signed an executive order that will prohibit local police from aiding federal agents if they are sent to the city. According to CBS News, statistics from recent years have shown that the numbers in crime have been significantly decreasing in Chicago and other metropolitan areas. Additionally, Johnson explained that Chicago will not stand for the ripping apart of families, given that the aid would go mainly to immigration enforcement. Part of these concerns Johnson expressed with immigration enforcement are parallel to some of the fears Jones has.
“I don’t feel any safer [with police], but maybe slightly more anxious,” Jones said. “I worry about people being targeted for arrests by [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] under the guise of safety. They are also rounding up homeless people and I’m not sure where they are going. The real reason [for the deployment] is to close homeless camps and likely to meet quotas for ICE arrests.”
All over Washington D.C. and the nation, protests have been breaking out against the presence of the Guards. One of the protest locations being at Union Station, where resident and Midtown alum Marian Waller passes frequently.
“I was at Union Station the other day where there were a lot of Guard members posted,” Waller said. “There is a tent set up with protesters there all the time.”
The Union Station protest Waller is referring to, is a veteran-run, sit-in protest, against the presence of the troops. They claim that they will not leave until the troops deployed have been withdrawn from the city.
“I don’t think I have felt necessarily more anxious, but I haven’t felt more safe either,” Waller said. “It has been really strange to see the National Guard patrolling and posted at places like metro stations.”
Chicago resident, Katie Rottman, expressed that the presence of Guard members concerns her, believing it will increase tensions.
“I have lived in Chicago my whole life and have never felt ‘unsafe’ in the way that would require military action,” Rottman said. “The presence of troops will increase tensions between residents and authorities. The Chicago Police Department has faced higher levels of tension with residents over recent years due to some ‘bad actors’. This will only exacerbate those issues.”
According to an analysis done by CBS News, all types of crime rates in 2025 have dropped compared to 2024 in Washington D.C. CBS News acknowledged that there are confounding factors that make it difficult to determine the exact causes of the visible decreases. However, combined violent crime has dropped 49%, burglaries are down 48%, and motor vehicle theft has fallen 36%. Rottman predicts how these effects might be seen in Chicago.
“Downtown Chicago and predominantly Hispanic communities will be the most affected,” Rottman said. “Downtown will face lower tourist numbers which feeds a big bulk of Chicago’s economy. Hispanic communities are already facing daily fear and racial profiling that is negatively affecting their daily life.”
Jones* is an anonymous last name
