Trump announces ‘surge’ of federal agents to cities

washington — US President Donald Trump announced he was deploying more federal agents to Chicago and other major cities Wednesday to help battle a jump in gun violence and shooting deaths.

The move came a day after 15 people in Chicago, the country’s third largest city, were wounded in a drive-by shooting at a funeral for a man recently gunned down in what police called gang violence.

But officials made clear that the government was not sending paramilitary forces in to address protests, as it has in a deeply controversial move in Portland, Oregon.

“I’m announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into communities plagued by violent crime,” Trump said at the White House, with Attorney General William Barr and the FBI and Department of Homeland Security chiefs in the audience.

“We want to make law enforcement stronger, not weaker,” he said, adding that, for the cities, “Help is on the way.” —