U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum establishing the "Memphis Safe Task Force,” which will deploy National Guard troops alongside federal agencies to tackle rising crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
The order was signed on Monday at the White House during a meeting with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Trump described the operation as a “replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts” in Washington DC, where federal forces and National Guard troops were previously mobilised to reduce criminal activity.
The Memphis task force will include officials from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“We’re sending in the big force now,” Trump said.
The president said the initiative was prompted by concerns over Memphis’ crime rate, which remains above the national average and has risen since last year, despite local police reporting decreases across major crime categories in the first eight months of 2025. Gun violence remains a significant challenge in the city, which recorded more than 390 homicides in 2023.
Governor Lee welcomed the federal support, saying the joint effort could bring “meaningful changes” to Memphis. Trump indicated similar deployments could follow in other cities, including Chicago, Baltimore and Portland, though action in some locations may be delayed.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has expressed opposition to the deployment, saying he did not request the National Guard and questioning whether it is the right approach to reducing crime.
The memorandum builds on previous federal efforts, including National Guard deployments to Los Angeles in June to control protests and to Washington DC last month as part of an anti-crime operation, which reportedly removed around 1,500 offenders from the capital.
The Prime Minister's party is in the lead as Armenian media are reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count...
Israel said it struck military targets in western and central Iran on Monday, even after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Min...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
The United Nations has expressed concern over reports that women in western Afghanistan have been arrested and detained for allegedly failing to compl...
A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 15 people and triggering tsunami warn...
The Prime Minister's party is in the lead as Armenian media are reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United Nations has expressed concern over reports that women in western Afghanistan have been arrested and detained for allegedly failing to comply with Taliban dress requirements.
A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 15 people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
The Prime Minister's party is in the lead as Armenian media are reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday (8 June) for a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, receiving a grand welcome as he described relations between the two countries as being at a "new historical starting point".
Football fans of all ages gathered in Miami Beach for a World Cup sticker trading event, exchanging duplicates and comparing Panini albums as they prepared for the tournament's opening match.
A city north of Tokyo has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools after its first-ever reported bear sighting, amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people across Japan.
A Turkish fishing vessel rescued migrants from a boat in distress in international waters off Malta on Sunday (7 June), after the overcrowded craft capsized in the central Mediterranean.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as efforts to secure a ceasefire continue.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment