Chicago and the suburbs are preparing for a weekend in which federal agents may start conducting accelerated immigration enforcement.
At least 300 federal agents are expected to arrive at the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago as part of the Trump Administration’s enhanced operations from ICE, Customs and Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security, North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said.
Friday night was a typical night at the naval base except inside the sprawling facility, an office building was being used by ICE and Homeland Security.
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, visited the facility for a meeting with base leadership earlier in the day.
“One of the things I wanted to emphasize was that we will not allow the diversion of taxpayer dollars that were appropriated for military readiness and military training for Great Lakes to be diverted from that mission, which is critical to our nation’s security, into ICE’s efforts to intimidate people on the streets of our city,” Duckworth stated.
The Democratic lawmakers said they only met with base officials – and the Department of Homeland Security staff avoided their visit.
“DHS fled, they fled, and they’re hiding, and that is a clear indication of how secretive they want to be on this effort, and so we are deeply concerned,” Duckworth stated.
The president hopes to expand immigration enforcement in Chicago and Illinois, which have both resisted cooperating with ICE.
Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance was asked about the possibility of the National Guard coming to Chicago to fight crime or aid in immigration enforcement.
“There are no immediate plans, but the president has said he has the legal authority to protect American citizens, whether that’s in Chicago or Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Pushback to planned ICE operations has emerged across the city and suburb.
Anti-ICE protestors held signs over the Edens Expressway, while in suburban Broadview, protesters demonstrated outside an ICE processing center.
At the Naval station, a prayer vigil was held for immigrant facilities.
Many with undocumented loved ones are worried people with no criminal history will be swept up in raids.
“We’re talking about mixed-status families, those are American families being destroyed today, criminalizing non-criminals, there are many men and women, Juans, Marias and Joses across this nation, with no criminal background, they’ve raised children who have graduated from college, they contribute to our great nation,” said Pastor Julie Contreras with United Giving Hope.