BREAKING: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is moving to leverage a Navy base north of Chicago to bolster President Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy. Officials at Naval Station Great Lakes confirmed they received a request from Secretary Kristi Noem to accommodate federal immigration enforcement agents, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
This urgent move comes as Trump escalates threats to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago. Noem stated that an ICE “strike team” will be arriving in the city shortly. Defense officials revealed to The Washington Post that no final decision has yet been made on this request, but the base could provide essential “facilities, infrastructure, and other logistical needs” if approved.
The responsibility for approving the request lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously pledged the Pentagon’s full support for DHS operations aligned with Trump’s immigration agenda aimed at deporting undocumented immigrants. An internal email from Navy Capt. Stephen Yargosz, commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes, indicated that DHS personnel could be at the base from September 2 to September 30, 2023, if the request is greenlit. Yargosz also mentioned the potential to support National Guard units.
The DHS is attempting to connect this staging post request to Trump’s broader push for enhanced safety in cities across the U.S., a policy already facing challenges in Washington, D.C. Despite many individuals detained by ICE lacking violent criminal histories, the DHS has asserted its commitment, stating, “Across the country, DHS law enforcement are arresting and removing the worst of the worst, including gang members, murderers, pedophiles, and rapists that have terrorized American communities.”
Noem emphasized the urgency of the operation, declaring, “We’re going to have a strike team in Chicago soon,” during an interview with NewsNation following a Cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, Trump criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and other leaders in Democrat-led cities, labeling them as “against crime prevention.” Pritzker has aggressively countered Trump’s threats, asserting that he “will not stand idly by” should the National Guard be deployed to intimidate residents. His firm response on social media read, “Action will be met with a response.”
The request for the Navy base comes in the wake of reports detailing that the Navy is planning a significant celebration involving seacraft this fall, following Trump’s dissatisfaction with the military parade held in Washington on his birthday in June.
As this situation develops, all eyes are on the Pentagon and the impending decisions regarding the use of Naval Station Great Lakes. The outcome could greatly influence the dynamics of immigration enforcement and community safety in Chicago and beyond. Stay tuned for further updates as this story evolves.
