(CNN) — The running battle between President Donald Trump and Democratic-led cities is nearing a new inflection point, as active-duty troops gather near Chicago while lawyers prepare for critical court hearings 2,000 miles away from each other.

The Trump administration is tying planned deployments in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, to increasingly tense protests outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, as well as citing the shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas. Two ICE detainees were killed there. Trump has called it an attack on law enforcement.

The president ramped up his criticism Wednesday of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who called the Guard call-up “Trump’s invasion” over the weekend.

“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failin

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