Chicago Resident Challenges Crime Statistics

A resident of Chicago, Ameenah Haqque, pushed back on the Democratic narrative that crime is decreasing in the city. On Tuesday, she spoke to CNN’s Whitney Wild, urging local leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, to back President Donald Trump’s proposal to send in the National Guard to address crime issues.

Although Wild reported that crime has been on a decline, Haqque pointedly remarked that she and others do not feel any safer in their neighborhoods. “Crime may be declining, but do you really feel safer?” she questioned, to which she firmly responded, “No, not at all,” particularly criticizing how the police are being treated.

In response to rising concerns, Trump announced last Friday that once he finishes addressing issues in Washington, D.C., he may consider deploying the National Guard to Chicago. He referred to the city as “confused” under what he deemed an incompetent leadership and claimed citizens are desperate for help.

Chicago’s murder rate spiked in 2021, marking its highest level in 25 years. Compared to that year, it’s clear that the numbers are still concerning. As of August 26, the city reported 262 murders, a reduction of 117 cases from 2024, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Pritzker and Johnson have accused Trump of misinforming the public about crime in Chicago, urging him to stay out of the city. In an effort to counteract the narrative, Pritzker even released a video showcasing safer parts of Chicago on social media. They also asserted that Trump’s potential National Guard deployment could violate the U.S. Constitution.