The White House has drawn a comparison between Chicago’s murder rate and that of New Delhi to support President Donald Trump’s call for federal intervention in US cities struggling with violent crime. Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, said that in 2014 Chicago’s homicide rate was 15 times higher than Delhi’s. Chicago recorded 25.5 murders per 100,000 residents, while Delhi reported just 1.48, according to official data.
Earlier this year, the White House released a chart comparing murder rates in 11 world capitals to justify deploying the National Guard in Washington. Delhi ranked ninth on the list, with London and Madrid showing lower numbers. Washington, however, topped the chart with 27.64 murders per 100,000 residents. Islamabad stood at the fourth-worst spot with 9.2.
Trump targets Chicago for Federal deployment
After sending the National Guard to Washington, President Trump now has his eyes on Chicago. Calling the city “a mess,” he said residents were “screaming for help.” He also hinted that New York could be next.
The National Guard is similar to India’s Territorial Army but is controlled by both state and federal governments. In Washington, Trump was able to deploy it because the city is a federal territory. But in Chicago, his plan faces stiff resistance from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“Action will be met with a response”, Pritzker warned. “We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans,” he added.
Crime declines in Washington after deployment
Despite opposition, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has admitted that crime has gone down since the National Guard entered the city on August 11. There have been no homicides since then, compared to 100 killings earlier this year.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighbourhoods feel safer and are safer, so this surge has been important to us”, Bowser said on Wednesday.
President Trump has said he wants the federal death penalty to be used in Washington and even wants juveniles tried as adults. He is also pressuring states to scrap cashless bail by threatening to cut federal funds.
Crime, politics, and party lines
Trump has framed the crime issue along party lines, noting that nearly all of the 25 most violent US cities are run by Democrats. He hopes to turn public concern over crime into political gains, just as he did during the election.
A major challenge for Democrats is that crime in big cities mostly affects minority groups. In Chicago, nearly 95 per cent of murder victims are African Americans and Latinos. Trump is trying to appeal to these communities by promising stronger law enforcement.
Last year, Chicago, with 2.75 million people, saw 573 murders and over 2,100 sex crimes. Washington, a much smaller city with 702,000 residents, reported 187 murders and 143 sex abuse cases. On the other hand, New Delhi, with a massive population of 34 million, recorded 504 murders and 2,076 crimes against women, according to the Delhi Police data.
