Staff Reporter
Federal immigration agents and potentially National Guard troops may soon operate from Naval Station Great Lakes, a suburban naval base near North Chicago, as part of President Donald Trump’s plan to target Chicago for what he describes as a crackdown on lawlessness. The move has raised serious questions about legality, coordination, and the federal government’s role in local policing.
According to an internal email sent by Navy Capt. Stephen Yargosz, commanding officer at Naval Station Great Lakes, the base will host federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The operation is scheduled to run from September 2 through September 30, and its primary focus will be on downtown Chicago.
“These operations are similar to what occurred in Los Angeles earlier this summer. Same DHS team,” Yargosz wrote in his email Monday, which was confirmed authentic by two sources familiar with the planning.
Yargosz also noted that there was a “potential to also support National Guard units,” although details remain unclear. “Mainly a lot of concerns and questions,” he acknowledged, adding that the operation still requires a formal request for assistance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Story Highlights
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Federal agents from DHS, ICE, and CBP to be based at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois.
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Planned operation: September 2–30, targeting downtown Chicago.
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Possible involvement of National Guard troops.
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Local officials, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, say they were not consulted.
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Legality and coordination questioned by state leaders.
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Naval Station facilities, including Building 617, to be used by DHS.
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Deployment compared to earlier operation in Los Angeles.
Local Leaders Kept Out of the Loop
While Trump has framed the move as an effort to curb “rampant crime” in Chicago, local leaders argue that the action is both unnecessary and unprecedented. They point to data showing a significant drop in crime rates this year.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, said they received no advance notice about the federal plan.
Duckworth, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and Iraq War veteran, strongly condemned the move.
“We know that Donald Trump bringing in ICE and other federal enforcement to Chicago isn’t about ‘law and order,’” Duckworth said. “Once again, he is refusing to coordinate with our local officials. Forcing the military, uninvited, into Chicago to intimidate Americans in their own communities does not make our nation stronger.”
She called the potential deployment “unwarranted, unwanted and unjust”, warning that it would only undermine military readiness and weaken national security.
“It’s yet another move straight out of the authoritarian’s playbook,” Duckworth added.
Sen. Dick Durbin echoed her concerns:
“State and local leaders have not asked for or consented to President Trump bringing in the military to ‘save’ our city,” Durbin said. “And now he reportedly wants to further abuse his power, waste government resources, and undermine military readiness by using Naval Station Great Lakes as a base of operations.”
Gov. JB Pritzker questioned the White House’s motives during a Monday press conference:
“If this was really about fighting crime and making the streets safe, what possible justification could the White House have for planning such an exceptional action without any conversations or consultations?” Pritzker asked.
White House, Federal Agencies Silent on Details
The White House declined to comment, referring all inquiries to immigration officials. However, DHS, ICE, and CBP have not provided answers either. The Defense Department has remained silent as well.
Trump, meanwhile, has alternated between threats and conditional offers of help. Speaking during a televised cabinet meeting, the president said:
“I’m not a dictator, I just know how to stop crime. [Pritzker] should be calling me and saying, ‘Could you send over the troops, please? It’s out of control.’”
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and other officials have confirmed they are exploring all legal options to challenge any unauthorized deployment.
Planning Underway for Weeks, Sources Say
Reports indicate that Pentagon planning for a military intervention in Chicago has been underway for weeks. A source with knowledge of the operation told the Sun-Times that 30 to 40 ICE agents have already been practicing riot control drills at the base for months, using flash-bang grenades and marching in formation with shields. The source added that the barracks at Naval Station Great Lakes can accommodate up to 200 personnel, suggesting a larger deployment may be possible.
According to Capt. Yargosz’s email, Building 617 — currently home to the Navy College Learning Center and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Library — will be repurposed for DHS operations. Yargosz advised his staff to
“Stay clear of DHS vehicles and equipment and act professionally.”
A Broader Federal Strategy?
This move mirrors actions taken earlier this summer in Los Angeles, where 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were deployed in June during federal immigration enforcement operations. Hundreds of those troops remain activated in California, even as the state challenges the deployment in court.
Chicago now appears to be the next focal point for federal intervention, alongside other Democrat-led cities such as New York and Baltimore. However, state officials argue the legality of this plan is questionable, raising concerns over federal overreach and the potential militarization of civilian spaces.
The planned deployment of federal agents and possibly National Guard troops to Chicago through Naval Station Great Lakes has ignited a fierce debate over federal authority, local governance, and the limits of military involvement in domestic affairs. While the Trump administration frames the move as a response to crime, state and local leaders argue it represents federal overreach and a lack of coordination.
As questions remain about legality, transparency, and the true purpose of the operation, the coming weeks will determine whether this plan proceeds — and how it reshapes the relationship between Washington and America’s major cities.
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