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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives plans to send 20 more agents to Chicago to help with gun crime
Last week President Trump tweeted he would 'send in the Feds' to curb violence
However, the ATF wouldn't say if the timing is in response to the tweets since it has been in the works for a while
The ATF agents will stay in the city for one or two months

Published: 09:33 EST, 4 February 2017 | Updated: 09:38 EST, 4 February 2017

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The ATF will send in 20 more officers to help with Chicago's gun violence problem

A week after President Donald Trump tweeted he would 'send in the Feds' to curb Chicago gun violence, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is looking to send 20 more agents to the Windy City.

However, this has been in the works for some time. ATF would not say if the choice to do it now was in response to Trump's tweets.

The new team of 20 will be called the 'Chicago Crime Guns Strike Force.' Currently, there are 40 agents in the city according to CNN.

The agency said another option would be to develop strategies with the city, but the plans are still up in the air.

A spokesperson for ATF said: 'ATF is exploring various options as we are committed to furthering law enforcement efforts in Chicago.'

'One of those options is to send additional agents to Chicago on permanent transfers. ATF is still early in the process of developing strategies and will be prepared to discuss these options further once plans are finalized.'

Many people wondered if President Trump was implying he would enact marital law

The ATF would not say if the move was a response to Trump's 'send in the Feds' tweet

It doesn't sound like Chicago officials were looped in about the impending federal government intervention.

A source close to City Hall told the Chicago Sun Times they heard about what was happening on the news. The agents would likely stay for one or two months and not permanently relocate.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Mayor Rahm Emanuel told news outlets: 'We have received no word from the federal government to confirm these reports, but it would be welcome news if the administration has indeed agreed to one of Mayor Emanuel’s requests for federal resources.'

'We remain hopeful that they will also provide added DEA and FBI agents, that they will boost the prosecution rate for federal gun crimes in Chicago and that they will provide funding for successful violence prevention efforts.'

Emanuel is fairly critical of the new president. A few days after the inauguration, the mayor said Trump should focus on jobs and education rather than how many people were in the crowd.

The next day, Trump tweeted. Many thought he was referring to martial law: 'If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible "carnage" going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds.'

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he was not open to the National Guard intervening to help with gun violence like many thought President Trump was implying

Trump has tweeted about Chicago gun violence and said the city should seek federal help

Emanuel said the National Guard would not be welcome in Chicago, but he was open to other solutions.

Before Trump took office, he tweeted out a similar sentiment about Chicago needing federal intervention saying: 'Chicago murder rate is record setting - 4,331 shooting victims with 762 murders in 2016. If Mayor can't do it he must ask for Federal help!'

Though the number of murders in Chicago was the highest it has been in 19 years, the murder rate is actually lower now than it was in the 1990s and 1970s.