What to know about National Guard, federal forces in Memphis
When the National Guard troops arrive, they will act as “eyes and ears” for other federal and local law enforcement, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said.
Topic: National Guard
RSSThere are 44 article(s) tagged National Guard:
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January 2026
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Feds support National Guard deployment in Memphis
As the federal government loses cases about deploying troops to cities across the country, the U.S. government has weighed in on whether the Tennessee National Guard should remain in Memphis.
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Creating a safe space: Why Da Sammich Spot owner took on ICE
When ICE showed up at his Orange Mound business after hours, Da Sammich Spot owner Rob Brown felt like he had to take action.
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National Guard numbers swelled in mid-November, documents show
In the days before a Nashville judge ruled on the legality of Gov. Bill Lee’s deployment of the Tennessee National Guard, hundreds more guardsmen surged into Memphis, according to public records.
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What do Memphians think about Memphis Safe Task Force?
Some say the National Guard “shouldn’t be here,” while others say Memphis “got the message.” The Daily Memphian captured a snapshot of where Memphians stand on the Memphis Safe Task Force and its impact.
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December 2025
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Before Task Force, there was Operation Viper — and nearly 500 arrests
This spring, FBI Director Kash Patel singled out Memphis’ violent crime rate during an interview with Fox News. When his comments were publicized, law enforcement was underway on what would become Operation Viper.
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State challenges National Guard ruling
The state argues that a judge was wrong when she ruled that Gov. Bill Lee sent the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis illegally.
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November 2025
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State now has until December to appeal National Guard ruling
The Tennessee National Guard is likely to remain in Memphis until at least early December, as the state has yet to appeal an injunction blocking the deployment.
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More than 850 National Guard personnel in Memphis
The boost in the National Guard’s presence comes as State of Tennessee plans to appeal a Nashville chancellor’s blocking of the deployment to Memphis.
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National Guard deployment has already cost millions
The state has contracts to feed and house the National Guard for well more than $6 million — to be paid by the federal government — according to court documents filed Friday.
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100+ more National Guard members coming to Memphis
“Over the next few days, we anticipate the total presence will increase to roughly 350,” the Memphis Police Department said in a statement.
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What could be the long-term impact of the Memphis Safe Task Force? Community leaders weigh in.
The Daily Memphian asked a selection of community leaders what, in their opinion, the long-term impact of the Memphis Safe Task Force could be.
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Guest Column: ‘Living in Memphis means choosing life over fear’
“We can’t let people who don’t actually live in Memphis tell us how terrible our own city is. ... Yes, there’s risk here – but there’s also rhythm, resilience and beauty.”
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Federal task force fighting crime — and finding missing kids
While fighting crime is the bulk of its work, the task force has notably been publicizing another statistic: the number of missing children it has located.
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October 2025
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Hegseth orders the military to provide attorneys for Memphis, border
This week’s memo says the Justice Department asked for 20 lawyers to help support its offices in Memphis, where the National Guard has been deployed by President Donald Trump.
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Table Talk: Heard it through the (National Guard) grapevine
When it comes to finding out what’s happening in our communities, there’s often no way to know without actually contacting folks and asking them how they are doing.
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National Guard sparks restaurant boycotts — and support campaigns
Over a month ago, Elwood’s Shack posted on social media that the East Memphis restaurant would give any member of the National Guard a free barbecue sandwich — pulled pork, brisket or chicken.
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Guard’s impact hits some restaurants hard — and some not at all
“We’ve been deeply affected in a very negative way by everything that’s happening,” said the general manager of a local restaurant who is encouraging Memphians to support other small businesses. “The sales have dropped like 60% or 70% in the last 15 days.”
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Memphis wasn’t asked to join National Guard lawsuit, Harris says
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and leaders of other groups seeking to stop the National Guard deployment in Memphis say the city was never offered an option to join their lawsuit.
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Calkins: It was a surreal night on Beale Street — and everything Penny Hardaway dreamed
What do you get when you combine Penny Hardaway, Beale Street, Memphis Pom, the FBI and the National Guard? A night of Memphis basketball that seemed like a dream.
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Letter to the Editor: We don’t need military occupation. We need poverty eradication.
“That jail was already overcrowded; today it holds 800 people over capacity. Incarceration is not the solution.”
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How Boss Crump stared down a governor’s threat to send the National Guard to Memphis
Memphians may be intrigued to learn what happened in 1938 in a world where Memphis stood largely united against a National Guard deployment, behind a self-assured leader with a powerful political organization and friends in Washington, D.C.
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Memphis guard deployment could last into 2026, defense secretary says
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could authorize the use of up to 1,000 Tennessee National Guard troops for a whole year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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Memphis NAACP wants ‘investment ... not occupation’
The NAACP Memphis Chapter held an event Friday to discuss concerns about the deployment of federal law enforcement agents in Memphis.
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Opinion: Why I support the Memphis Safe Task Force
There are many who believe additional support to our local law enforcement is a good thing.
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