The federal initiative to combat crime in has officially commenced.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on Tuesday morning that “our operation in Memphis is now underway, and we’re just getting started,” noting that nine individuals had already been apprehended and two “illegal firearms” confiscated.
Bondi stated that 219 officers had been “special deputized,” meaning they were endowed with federal law enforcement powers, and a “Joint Operation Center” had been established. She expressed gratitude to various agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Local authorities and inhabitants have been making arrangements for the deployment of federal forces ever since President Donald Trump authorized a directive approximately two weeks prior, stipulating that agents from various bodies and National Guard personnel be dispatched to Memphis to tackle what he has termed “tremendous levels of violent crime” within the city.
Nevertheless, the precise details of the deployment—such as the number of individuals involved and its exact timing—have continued to be somewhat ambiguous. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced during a news conference on Friday that the operation would commence this week and would incorporate staff from 13 federal agencies, alongside 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers.
The Governor indicated that the operation would unfold in stages over the “next weeks and months.” He further noted that “planning has been underway for months.”
As of Tuesday, despite Bondi’s report of initial arrests, there were no confirmed observations of the National Guard within Memphis.
Responses of state and local authorities to Trump’s initiatives
In contrast to the majority of other cities where Trump has dispatched the National Guard—or indicated an intention to do so—Tennessee’s Republican leadership has expressed backing for the federal enforcement action in Memphis. Alongside Governor Lee, Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty demonstrated their support in the Oval Office when the President declared the establishment of the aimed at confronting urban crime through cooperative efforts between state and federal entities.
On Monday, Lee characterized Memphis as a “world-class city with an historic opportunity to address its crime challenge” and extended his gratitude to the President for “providing every federal resource needed so that all Tennesseans can live in a safe neighborhood.” He clarified that the National Guard would operate in a supportive role for local and state authorities, without powers of arrest.
Democratic Memphis Mayor Paul Young has adopted a more cautious stance regarding the impending deployment, stating earlier in September that he was “certainly not happy” with Trump’s proposal to dispatch National Guard personnel to the city. Nevertheless, speaking on Friday, he suggested he would endeavor to utilize the “resources” arriving in Memphis for the city’s benefit, while recognizing the “passionate emotions” expressed by community members both for and against the operation.
“As the leader of our city, my objective is to ensure that as resources are introduced into our community, we discover methods to employ them effectively and for the advantage of our great city’s inhabitants,” he stated.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) reported this month that total crime within the city had reached a 25-year low during the initial eight months of 2025. According to the department, homicides were at a six-year low, aggravated assaults at a five-year low, and sexual assaults at a twenty-year low.
However, the city continues to observe higher instances of homicide and motor vehicle thefts compared to 2019, as per a recent report from the , and analyses of FBI data have indicated that Memphis’s homicide rate last year ranked among the highest nationwide when juxtaposed with other major U.S. cities.
How activists and groups have geared up for opposition
During the weekend, local and state nonprofit organizations initiated the “” movement, a collaborative of groups “standing against the proposed deployment of the National Guard to Memphis,” named after the city’s area code, accompanied by demonstrations in Memphis.
“History demonstrates that the precursors to martial law frequently commence with such tactics. This includes the gradual acceptance of militarization, increased deployments that obscure the distinction between emergency assistance and occupation, and the diminishment of standard civic protections,” one demonstrator remarked at the press conference preceding the protesters’ .
Last week, the ACLU of Tennessee dispatched a letter to Mayor Young and Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, “demanding strict adherence” to the , an accord between the ACLU and the city established in 1978, designed to safeguard the First Amendment rights of Memphis citizens from encroachment by local governance.
“The participation of federal and National Guard forces in local law enforcement does not lessen these safeguards,” stated ACLU Tennessee Legal Director Stella Yarbrough regarding the decree. “On the contrary, it renders strict adherence more essential than ever. Memphis police are prohibited from leveraging federal coordination as a means to covertly engage in the surveillance practices this decree was intended to prohibit.”
The correspondence further elaborates on multiple methods by which the MPD is restricted from collaborating with federal law enforcement under the terms of the decree.
Local authorities, alongside nonprofit organizations and community groups, are also striving to enlighten residents about their entitlements and maintain their awareness regarding the forthcoming federal initiative.
Shelby County Commissioner Erica Sugarman indicated last week in Washington, D.C., that she was relaying insights from advocates in the nation’s capital, drawn from their experiences with the federal enforcement action in that location.
Concurrently, the city of Memphis inaugurated a platform where residents can register grievances and stay updated on the presence of federal agents within the city.
