State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) joined a coalition of conservative state legislators and anti-crime advocates on Tuesday, urging President Donald Trump to proceed with plans to deploy the National Guard to help combat the ongoing violent crime crisis in the City of Chicago.
“President Trump is absolutely right. Federal law enforcement resources are urgently needed to restore public safety in our cities, and nowhere is that more true than in Chicago,” said Chesney. “Governor Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Illinois Democrats have fostered a pro-crime, anti-police environment. They’ve abandoned victims, undermined law enforcement, and turned their backs on the people of Chicago.”
Chesney and his colleagues cited crime data from 2024, which reported over 600 homicides and more than 3,000 shootings in Chicago. The trend has continued into 2025, with equally disturbing crime numbers reported through the end of August. They contrasted the Chicago numbers with the recent deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., which has delivered dramatic results.
“Since the Guard was deployed in D.C., crime has plummeted,” Chesney noted. “Homicides are down significantly and carjackings have dropped by nearly half. The message is clear. When leadership gets serious about crime and supports law enforcement, criminals think twice.”
The legislators condemned Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and weakened the criminal justice system by requiring the release of most offenders within hours of their arrest. They argued that this “revolving door” policy has demoralized police officers and severely limited their ability to protect the public.
“Law and order is the foundation of a free society,” Chesney emphasized. “Without safe streets, there is no prosperity, no opportunity, and no justice. That’s why I fully support President Trump’s initiative to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. If Democrat leaders won’t act to protect their citizens, then we will. That starts with bringing federal resources to Chicago and standing unapologetically with law enforcement.”
