The Trump administration is escalating efforts to deploy federal law enforcement officers in several Democratic-led cities, as part of what it calls a crackdown to address crime and restore order.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker says the Trump administration plans to federalise 300 Illinois National Guard troops. Calling the move “outrageous and un-American,” he vowed not to cooperate, as similar deployments face court challenges in Portland,

Oregon National Guard officials confirmed Monday that 200 troops had been called up, though they aren't expected to arrive in Portland until later this week.

A history of the National Guard published by the Pentagon in 2001 describes the 1990s as a turning point for the service, marked by increasing domestic missions in part to “a nearly continuous string” of natural disasters.

Images from Portland of protesters going toe-to-toe with federal agents haven’t been reflected as much in Seattle in recent weeks.

Every night the encampment of wackos — some dressed as unicorns or chickens — blast loud music, engage in anti-government chants over loudspeakers and megaphones, and when they violently clash with law enforcement officers, it reverberates around the neighborhood.