On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, announced the formation of a task force aimed at addressing crime in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is the second city to experience a federal initiative focused on crime, following Washington D.C. This move comes after plans for a similar operation in Chicago were reportedly abandoned due to local and state opposition.
Mayor Paul Young of Memphis has expressed concerns regarding the federal intervention, asserting that crime rates in the city are already decreasing without outside involvement. President Trump described Memphis as being “overrun” with various crimes, including carjackings and shootings, and emphasized that steps would be taken to remedy the situation. He referenced the perceived success of crime reduction in Washington D.C. and stated intentions to extend similar efforts to cities like Chicago and St. Louis.
The Memphis task force is expected to involve several federal agencies, including the National Guard, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Governor Lee has voiced support for the initiative, claiming he is collaborating with the White House to mobilize both federal and state resources to address crime in Memphis.
Recent FBI statistics indicate that Memphis has a violent crime rate of 2,501 incidents per 100,000 people, one of the highest rates in the U.S. Speculation regarding the deployment of federal resources has been ongoing, with mentions of cities like New Orleans and Baltimore for potential future initiatives.
Despite the support from state Republicans, including Governor Lee, there is notable opposition from local officials, including the mayor, who seek to influence how federal resources will engage with the community. Questions regarding the legality of deploying military forces in U.S. cities have also arisen, particularly following a recent federal court ruling that deemed a similar deployment in Los Angeles illegal.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dxqe3xnv0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss