The Department of Homeland Security announced the start of a stepped-up immigration enforcement operation in Chicago on Monday as President Donald Trumphas escalated his rhetoric about the city and pledged to crack down on violent crime.

Before “Operation Midway Blitz” began, Trump signaled he may also send National Guard troops to Chicago - a deployment that would mark the third time in recent monthsthat he has moved to federalize the Guard over the objections of state and local leaders. The president’s critics say the push is unconstitutional overreach meant to punish Democratic-run cities.

Protests and lawsuits followed ramped-up immigration enforcement and National Guard deployments to Los Angeles in June and D.C. in August. While Trump had more latitude in the nation’s capital to se

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