1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to President Trump's recent authorization to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee. This federal intervention, which includes personnel from the FBI, DEA, ICE, and U.S. Marshals, is an alarming overreach of presidential power that threatens local autonomy and raises serious concerns about civil liberties. While I acknowledge the challenges Memphis faces with gun violence, including the tragic record of over 390 homicides in 2023, it is crucial to note that recent police reports indicate crime rates have been decreasing in 2025. This suggests that local efforts may already be yielding positive results, making federal intervention unnecessary and potentially counterproductive. The president's statement that he's "sending in the big force now" to "save these places" demonstrates a concerning lack of understanding of the complex socio-economic factors contributing to urban crime. Such heavy-handed tactics, reminiscent of his controversial actions in Washington and Los Angeles, risk escalating tensions and eroding trust between law enforcement and communities. Furthermore, the inclusion of ICE in this task force is particularly troubling, as it conflates immigration issues with local crime, potentially leading to increased fear and discrimination against immigrant communities. This approach contradicts evidence-based practices in community policing and crime prevention. I urge you to take immediate action to oppose this federal intervention. Please work with your colleagues to: 1. Demand a withdrawal of the National Guard deployment to Memphis. 2. Call for congressional oversight hearings on the constitutionality and effectiveness of such federal interventions in local law enforcement matters. 3. Advocate for increased federal support for community-based crime prevention programs that address root causes of violence without militarizing our cities. The safety of our communities is paramount, but it must be achieved through methods that respect local governance, protect civil liberties, and foster trust between law enforcement and the people they serve. Federal troops and task forces are not the answer to Memphis's challenges, nor should they be considered for other cities like Chicago, as the president has suggested. I implore you to stand up for the principles of federalism and local control by opposing this dangerous precedent of federal overreach in local law enforcement matters. Our communities deserve thoughtful, evidence-based solutions, not militarized interventions that risk doing more harm than good.