On September 17, 2025, the city of Memphis, Tennessee, found itself at the center of a sweeping law enforcement initiative as President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard to the city moved forward. The move, finalized by an executive order signed on September 15, is part of a broader federal effort to clamp down on violent crime in Memphis—a city that, according to recent FBI data, has one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States.
The deployment, which echoes a similar operation in Washington, D.C., comes at a time when Memphis is under intense scrutiny for its crime statistics. As reported by The Commercial Appeal, Memphis recorded a violent crime rate of 2,501 per 100,000 people in 2024, nearly three times higher than Washington, D.C.’s rate of 926 per 100,000. The city’s murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate stood at 40.6 per 100,000, compared to Washington’s 25.5. Despite these daunting figures, there is a glimmer of hope: the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission noted that overall crime in Memphis dropped by 15.7% and violent crime by 17.4% from January to June 2025 compared to the same period the previous year.
President Trump’s executive order, titled "Restoring Law and Order in Memphis," established a Memphis Safe Task Force. The order’s stated goal is to "end street and violent crime in Memphis to the greatest possible extent through the promotion and facilitation of hypervigilant policing, aggressive prosecution, complex investigations, financial enforcement, and large-scale saturation of besieged neighborhoods with law enforcement personnel." In his September 12 interview with Fox News, Trump described Memphis as "deeply troubled," explaining that its per capita crime rates made it a priority for federal intervention.
Local law enforcement agencies in Crittenden County, Arkansas, just across the river from Memphis, are also bracing for potential spillover. West Memphis Police Chief Robbin Campbell told WREG News Channel 3 that his department, alongside the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies, is coordinating efforts to prevent criminals from crossing into West Memphis. "We will not allow [residents] to be preyed upon or victimized by opportunistic criminals," Campbell said. "Make no mistake about it, no bridge, no border, no boundary will keep you safe from the West Memphis Police Department and our area law enforcement partners."
Chief Campbell emphasized that his department is increasing its presence throughout the city and at Southland Casino as needed. With the National Guard’s arrival in Memphis imminent, West Memphis police plan to closely monitor 911 calls—tracking the type, timing, and nature of emergencies—to adjust their operations accordingly. "Criminals would much rather deal with the National Guard than with my officers if they cross into West Memphis," Campbell warned.
Community involvement is also being highlighted as an essential piece of the public safety puzzle. Longtime West Memphis resident Delois Crayton told WREG, "Police can only do a certain amount, but as a community we ought to be playing a part. The biggest thing is, we need to get the community involved. [If] you see something, as they say, report it." Crayton noted that while crime in West Memphis is present, it does not approach the levels seen in Memphis. "If something really big is going on, 9 times out of 10, yeah, they say it's coming from Memphis. Because around here, we do have crime, but not [as much] crime [as Memphis does]," she said.
Backing these efforts, the West Memphis City Council has thrown its full support behind increased public safety measures. "The City Council is on board with this, so when it comes to the safety of our community, money doesn't matter. You can't put a price tag on a person's life," Campbell stated. To prepare for any uptick in arrests, the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office has reported that 133 beds are available in the county jail. Additionally, extra patrol officers will be present at every public event as part of a countywide push to keep crime at bay.
As for the National Guard’s role in Memphis, the situation is nuanced. According to CBS News and the Brennan Center for Justice, the Guard will operate under Section 502 Title 32 status of the United States Code. This means that while the Guard is under the control of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, it can perform federal missions and receive federal pay and benefits. Crucially, Guard members are not federalized and are not subject to the Posse Comitatus Act, so they can participate in civilian law enforcement activities if directed by the governor. However, unless Governor Lee declares a state of emergency, the National Guard will not be making arrests—instead, they will assist local officers and perform general patrols throughout the city.
Other federal agencies may also join the effort. The executive order allows for the deployment of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Protective Service, the DEA, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service. These agencies, each with their own mandates and authorities, are expected to bolster local law enforcement in what the White House has called a "large-scale saturation of besieged neighborhoods."
Despite the urgency of the federal response, questions remain about the scope and duration of the National Guard’s deployment. There is no set timeline for when troops will arrive or depart. In Washington, D.C., the National Guard was deployed within a week of the president’s announcement, but Memphis officials have yet to receive a definitive schedule. The uncertainty extends to the powers that will be exercised by the various agencies, with much depending on whether a state of emergency is declared in the coming days or weeks.
Political leaders in Tennessee, including Governor Lee and Memphis Mayor Paul Young, have so far cooperated with the federal government’s plans, in contrast to the contentious reception the National Guard received in Washington, D.C. This cooperation may smooth the way for the deployment, but it has not quelled public debate about the wisdom and necessity of bringing in federal troops. Some community members welcome the extra support, citing persistent fears about crime, while others worry about the message such a deployment sends and the potential for overreach.
Meanwhile, the numbers tell a complicated story. While Memphis undeniably faces a higher violent crime rate than many other American cities, the recent downward trend in crime suggests that local efforts may already be making a difference. FBI Director Kash Patel, in a May interview on Fox News Channel’s Sunday Morning Futures, called Memphis "the homicide capital of America based on per capita crimes" and announced the creation of an FBI task force to address the issue. Yet, as The Commercial Appeal points out, crime was already declining by the time of Patel’s remarks—a trend that has continued into 2025.
As the deployment of the National Guard and other federal agencies to Memphis draws near, residents and officials alike are watching closely. Some see it as a necessary intervention for a city in crisis; others view it as an extraordinary measure that should be approached with caution. What is clear, though, is that Memphis stands at a crossroads—its next chapter shaped by a delicate balance between federal muscle, local resolve, and the enduring power of community action.
