MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The federal government is stepping in to address violent crime in West Tennessee with a significant show of force. On Friday, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a statement following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the National Guard will be deployed to Memphis. CBS News has more...

The move comes after several years of concerns over rising crime in the city. Senator Blackburn previously voiced her support for sending the Guard to assist local law enforcement and said she has been working closely with the Trump administration to secure additional resources.

“We are grateful for everything President Trump has already done to Make Memphis Safe Again with the help of FBI Director Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi,” Blackburn said in her statement. “Today, President Trump answered my call to do whatever it takes to Make Memphis Safe Again, and I applaud his decision to send the National Guard to Memphis following his tremendous success in reducing violent crime in Washington, D.C.”

Blackburn emphasized that the deployment reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to restore law and order in cities where violent crime remains high. She said she will continue pressing federal leaders to hold officials accountable who, in her view, have pursued “soft-on-crime” policies.

Memphis’s central role in national transportation has also made it a target for cargo theft, with incidents reported from trains and warehouses. At the same time, crime data paints a complex picture of public safety. A September 2025 report placed Memphis among the U.S. cities with the highest violent crime rates, and while overall violent crime in Shelby County rose 6.4% in late 2023, more guns were used in violent crimes in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Despite these challenges, there has been progress: homicides in Memphis have dropped 23% year-to-date in 2025, a decline that not only marks a sharp improvement from 2023 but also outpaces national trends.

The National Guard deployment will mark one of the largest federal interventions in local law enforcement Memphis has seen in years. Local and federal officials are expected to release more details in the coming days about the Guard’s specific role in assisting with public safety.