SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., says he would send Alabama’s National Guard into Birmingham and Montgomery to combat crime if elected governor.
Tuberville made the comments Friday on the “Longshore and McKnight” radio program. Asked if he would consider deploying troops to Alabama’s two largest cities, he replied: “You betcha.”
“President Trump’s given every governor that opportunity,” Tuberville said. “I know Governor Ivey, right now, is probably shorthanded. We’ve had a lot of our National Guard down at the border.”
AL.com left messages seeking comment from the mayors of Birmingham and Montgomery.
Crime in Birmingham and Montgomery
While Tuberville pointed to “rampant crime,” both cities have seen signs of improvement in 2025.
In Birmingham, the homicide rate dropped by more than 50% in the first half of the year compared to 2024. City officials credit new anti-violence strategies and community partnerships. Still, other violent crimes rose slightly, up 2.1%, and property crimes jumped 9.1%, fueled by thefts.
In Montgomery, overall crime trends are also down. Through June, the city recorded a 28% drop in violent crime, a 22% decline in nonfatal shootings, and a 13.5% decrease in homicides compared to the same period in 2024. Officials point to smarter policing and stronger recruitment efforts, but caution that repeat offenders cycling back onto the streets remain a challenge.
National context
Tuberville’s remarks come after President Donald Trump’s administration deployed federal agents and troops to Washington, D.C. on Aug. 12, citing crime concerns. Data, however, already showed crime was falling there. According to CNN, the federal presence has brought a rise in immigrant arrests, while many residents strongly oppose the move. Reports also indicate Trump is preparing to deploy troops to Chicago.
Civil liberties advocates, including the ACLU, have condemned the practice. “President Trump is manufacturing ‘emergencies’ to expand his power and create fear in major American cities,” said Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project. “Sending armed federal agents and military troops into our communities is unjustified and dangerous.”