Feds plans to drop 150 federal agents in Chicago as Bill of Rights violations questioned

U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to drop 150 federal agents in to Chicago this week, with agents activities not being made public. The news was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.

One city official is reportedly aware of specifics of the plans, but has not released any details on their operation.   

Last week, unmarked Federal agents confronted and reportedly abducted several street protesters in Portland, Oregon.  Portland’s Mayor asked President Trump to remove the agents from his city.  Since Trump has not only rejected the Mayor’s request, he’s sent more officers into Portland.

Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf has called the protesters in Portland a “violent mob” and “anarchists”. Yet Portland officials on the ground in their City say otherwise.

“Well, the president has a complete misunderstanding of cause and effect,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a tweet responding to Trump’s Sunday morning. “What’s happening here is, we have dozens, if not hundreds of federal troops descending upon our city. And what they’re doing is, they are sharply escalating the situation.”

On Saturday night, Portland police declared a riot after the police union building was broken into and a fire was lit. It marked the 51st straight night of protests in Portland.

Trump’s team has been described by Democrat Nancy Pelosi as “unidentified Stormtroopers” who were “kidnapping protesters”. Ro Khanna has described the agents as “secret federal agents”. Reports of the agents began to surface as early as July 14, that federal law enforcement agents have been using unmarked vehicles in the City had been seen arresting those participating in protests.

Mysterious #NakedAthena, wearing only face mask and cap, confronts Trump’s forces at #PortlandProtests, symbolizing human vulnerability. https://t.co/G4gCOB7LgL

— Richard Read (@RichReadReports) July 20, 2020

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has long opposed the use of federal law units in recent protests, comparing it to ‘adding gasoline to a fire.’

“Their presence here is actually leading to more violence and more vandalism,” Wheeler added. “And it’s not helping the situation at all. They’re not wanted here. We haven’t asked them here. In fact, we want them to leave.”

The ACLU of Illinois issued a statement Monday afternoon in response to the news.

Make no mistake: Trump’s federal troops will not be a constructive force in Chicago. As our colleagues have seen in Portland, Trump’s secret forces will terrorize communities, and create chaos. https://t.co/P7nNd2FZJK

— ACLU of Illinois (@ACLUofIL) July 20, 2020

The alleged actions by Federal government officials on protesters violate nearly every right an American citizen has under the Bill of Rights, including:

• First Amendment protection of respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
• Fourth Amendment’s protection right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
• Fifth Amendment’s protection from being forced to produce evidence against oneself
• Sixth Amendment’s requirements that criminal trials be conducted before an impartial jury and that defendants have an opportunity to confront witnesses against them and be afforded assistance of counsel if the potential sentence includes imprisonment
• Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
• Ninth Amendment’s prohibition shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
• Tenth Amendment prohibition regulating powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
• Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment and are thus applicable to the states.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney co-signed a letter Sunday condemning the recent law enforcement actions authorized by the Trump administration in Portland and last month in Washington D.C. and called for the Inspectors General of the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to open investigations.

“Citizens are concerned that the Administration has deployed a secret police force, not to investigate crimes but to intimidate individuals it views as political adversaries, and that the use of these tactics will proliferate throughout the country. Therefore, we ask that you commence your review of these issues immediately.” the letter reads.

Since Black Lives Matter protests began in March, President Trump has repeatedly attempted to re-branded protesters as terrorists without providing evidence in an effort to utilize US agencies against American civilians.