Federal Agents to Use Navy Base for Chicago Immigration Operations

A recent government memo has revealed plans to use a Navy base in Illinois as a central hub for federal agents involved in immigration enforcement in Chicago.

Key Details

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested space for around 250 agents and 140 vehicles at the Naval Station Great Lakes, the Navy's largest training base.
• This move is part of a broader strategy to intensify immigration operations in the Chicago area.

Command Center for "Removal Operations"

The memo highlights that the naval station will serve as a command center for:

• Coordination efforts targeting immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally.
• Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will use the base.
• The base's location near a major highway and its infrastructure make it a strategic choice.

Duration and Operations

• DHS officials have indicated they will need the base for about 30 days, suggesting the crackdown could span several weeks.
• The exact locations within Chicago where these operations will take place remain unclear.
• The base will be used for:
• Command and tactical operations
• Storage for medical supplies and less lethal munitions

Broader Context

This development comes after reports that the Trump administration is preparing for a significant immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago, similar to operations that sparked protests in Southern California earlier this year.

Targeting "Criminal Illegal Aliens"

• The administration has made it clear that it intends to target "criminal illegal aliens" in various cities, including Chicago and Boston.

Use of Military Bases for Immigration Enforcement

• The use of military bases for immigration enforcement is not new, but the scale and methods have evolved under the current administration.
• Previously, both Democratic and Republican administrations deployed troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to support Border Patrol agents.
• The Trump administration has expanded the military's role in immigration enforcement, deploying additional troops to the southern border and using military planes for deportations.

Recent Deployments

• In June, thousands of National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines were sent to Los Angeles to protect federal buildings and agents during immigration sweeps.
• This deployment was later ruled illegal by a federal judge, who stated that the Trump administration had violated federal law by using the military for civilian law enforcement.
• The administration has also deployed National Guard soldiers and federal agents to Washington, D.C., as part of a broader crackdown on crime and immigration operations.
• This move has faced legal challenges, with D.C.'s attorney general filing a lawsuit against the deployment of National Guard units.