Recent deployments of federal agents and National Guard personnel in U.S. cities have prompted discussion regarding their impact on community relations, particularly in areas with significant populations of color.
Federal Deployments and Community Concerns in St. Louis
Jaiden Booth, a St. Louis resident, has observed federal agents and unmarked vehicles in various immigrant communities within the city. These observations led Booth to attend a safety town hall focused on monitoring ICE activity, where he expressed opposition to federal and National Guard policing in communities of color. Booth stated that such deployments do not enhance safety and could lead to negative interactions with Black Americans, including harassment or mistreatment.
On October 1, Missouri's Republican Governor activated the state's National Guard to assist ICE agents. St. Louis Public Radio reported that 15 guardsmen were assigned to tasks such as data entry, logistical support, and case management for ICE. Neither the governor's office nor the state's National Guard provided comments regarding this action.
Crime Statistics and Presidential Comments
Crime rates in St. Louis have decreased over the past year. Violent and property crimes declined, and the city's homicide rate for 2025 to date stands at 123 murders, compared to 224 in 2020, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Despite these trends, President Trump suggested in September that St. Louis required federal assistance with crime, stating, "We've got to save these cities... We have to save St. Louis."
Concerns from Black Police Officials
Donny Walters, president of the Ethical Society of Police, St. Louis' Black police officers union, stated that federal troop deployment into Democratic-led cities and communities of color creates division between police and residents. Walters described these tactics as "heavy-handed" and counterproductive to fostering closer community ties. He suggested that the federal government should provide resources to Black and brown communities rather than focusing solely on increased enforcement. Walters also expressed concern that potential mistreatment of Black St. Louisans or other communities of color by federal agents or National Guardsmen could undermine the trust Black police officers have established. He indicated that local police departments would be left to manage the aftermath of such deployments.
Renee Hall, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, articulated that alternative methods exist for crime reduction, suggesting interventions should be led by city leaders and social service organizations. Hall noted a nationwide decline in violent crime, attributing it to efforts by mayors, city managers, and police chiefs. Hall further stated that the aggressive tactics employed by troops and federal agents resemble policing methods from the Jim Crow era, highlighting a historical context of over-policing in Black communities as a legacy of American slavery. She characterized the current tactics as "performative" and ineffective in achieving crime reduction.