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IPFS News Link • Trump Administration

Donald Trump will order FBI and DEA surge in Chicago and Albuquerque to tackle...

• https://www.dailymail.co, By GEOFF EARLE

Donald Trump is set to escalate his federal intervention in cities Wednesday by expanding 'Operation Legend,' deploying FBI and other agents to Chicago and Albuquerque to quell what he claims is out of control violence.

The move was to be announced Wednesday afternoon by Trump at the White House - putting him once again at odds with Democratic mayors, especially Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

They have opposed deploying federal forces to tackle protests. But Operation Legend, which was started in Kansas City, MO, involves surging Department of Justice, not Department of Homeland Security, agents to tackle crime rather then protests.

Lightfoot offered some off-ramp to the tensions Wednesday, saying a plan to surge FBI and DEA agents to help her city contend with local crime had her approval - but not an 'undemocratic' insertion of unidentified Homeland Security agents, as Trump has ordered in Portland.

Her statement signaled a possible de-escalation as critics fume about the Trump administration's use of 'secret' Homeland Security Investigations agents who have taken part in violent clashes with protesters in Portland.

Lightfoot, who has publicly clashed with President Trump, had vowed there would be no 'Portland-style deployment' in her city, just hours before gun violence erupted at a funeral.

Fifteen people were wounded on Chicago's South Side in the shooting outside a funeral home Tuesday night. Police said at least 60 bullets were fired in the shootout when gunmen in a car opened fire on the funeral party, who then returned fire on the vehicle. 


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