Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated his attacks on political opponents, calling for the jailing of Chicago’s mayor and the governor of Illinois.

"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" Trump posted on his social media platform.

The Republican was referring to Democratic leaders in Illinois who oppose his directive for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to carry out more aggressive raids in Chicago.

Why is ICE targeting Democratic cities?

Trump’s administration has targeted Democratic-run cities nationwide with raids on migrants, often conducted by masked, plainclothes agents. The crackdown fulfils a key campaign promise made during his election victory, when he described the United States as being under attack by waves of foreign "criminals."

In parallel, the military has carried out anti-crime campaigns in several cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Critics argue that these ICE and military deployments are an attempt by Trump to assert authoritarian powers and provoke chaos by forcing a response.

How has Chicago reacted?

Chicago has seen especially strong pushback. Around 200 National Guard soldiers from Texas arrived late Tuesday, despite opposition from local leaders.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced "ICE-free zones," declaring city-owned property off-limits to federal authorities. He accused Republicans of wanting "a rematch of the Civil War."

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a potential Democratic candidate in the 2028 presidential election, has become one of Trump’s most vocal critics. He has urged prosecutors to investigate the legality of ICE activities in Chicago and claimed Trump is motivated by a desire to "punish his political enemies."

What setbacks has Trump faced elsewhere?

Trump has also faced legal obstacles. A federal judge in Oregon blocked his attempt to deploy troops in Portland, ruling that his emergency descriptions were false and emphasising that the US is "a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law."

Despite this, Trump has warned that he could invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to deploy troops across the country if courts or local officials are "holding us up." 
AP inputs