As National Guard troops patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., President Trump has threatened to send soldiers to other cities across the country to help stop crime, but are they legally allowed to perform law enforcement duties? The answer depends on who deploys them.

"We're going to clean up our cities. We're going to clean them up, so they don't kill five people every weekend," Mr. Trump said when asked about his intention to send National Guard troops to cities like Chicago.

Troops in Washington, D.C. , are tasked with securing monuments, community patrols and area beautification, among other duties. But using the National Guard to "clean up our cities" is lined with legal red tape.

"National guard troops under the command of the governor of a state can perform law enforcement d

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