National Guard troops begin patrols in Memphis

"The Guard members are part of a federal task force, established by President Trump, to combat crime in Memphis. The task force includes agents from several federal agencies. It kicked off operations last week. The Trump administration has previously described Memphis as "suffering from tremendous levels of violent crime that have overwhelmed its local government's ability to respond effectively." A small number of Guard members were already in Memphis for planning and logistics purposes,"

"In Memphis, the Guard is operating under the governor's command which is different from how other cities are facing troop deployments. In California, Oregon and Illinois, Guard members were activated by the Trump administration moves that are now being challenged in court by state and local officials. While some support the use of federal intervention to curb crime, critics accuse the administration of unfairly targeting Democratic-led cities."

Federal National Guard troops have begun patrolling Memphis as part of a multi-agency federal task force established to combat violent crime. The task force began operations last week and includes agents from several federal agencies. The administration characterized Memphis as suffering from tremendous violent crime that has overwhelmed local response capacity. A small number of Guard members were initially present for planning and logistics, and broader troop numbers and locations remain unclear. The Guard in Memphis is operating under the governor's command, unlike federal activations in other states now facing legal challenges. The task force priorities include reducing crime, enforcing immigration laws, assisting police recruitment, retention and training, and coordinating strict enforcement.

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