ICE asks for access to Chicago-area Navy base to assist operations

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

National Security Foreign Policy Intelligence Justice Military

ICE asks for access to Chicago-area Navy base to assist operations

The request followed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem’s declaration that a “strike team” of immigration enforcement agents would arrive in Chicago soon.

August 27, 2025 at 7:34 p.m. EDT10 minutes ago
5 min

{snip picture}
The Chicago skyline, as seen from the city's North Lawndale neighborhood. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post)

By Dan Lamothe

The Trump administration wants to use a Navy base north of Chicago as a launchpad for federal law enforcement activity against undocumented immigration, defense officials said Tuesday as the White House contemplates also deploying thousands of U.S. troops to the nation’s third-largest city amid rising tension with the Illinois governor.

Officials at Naval Station Great Lakes on Wednesday acknowledged having received a request from the Department of Homeland Security that seeks “limited support” for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose aggressive tactics under the current administration have drawn outrage from opponents of President Donald Trump. The base, a hub for recruit training, would provide “facilities, infrastructure, and other logistical needs” if the request is granted, defense officials said in a statement.

No decisions to approve access have been made, officials said. That responsibility lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who since taking office in January has eagerly pledged the Pentagon’s full cooperation as DHS and its agents search for, detain and remove undocumented immigrants. He has approved the use of other military bases to build detention facilities for people in DHS custody. … The White House is determined to ramp up ICE operations, with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller pressing for 3,000 arrests per day. The polarizing strategy has strained DHS, prompted public outcry and set off numerous legal battles.

Asked about its plans for the Navy base in Illinois, DHS tied the discussion to Trump’s call for safer cities, though the vast majority of those targeted for removal have no history of violent crime. Homeland Security. … Secretary Kristi L. Noem said in an interview with NewsNation this week that DHS will have an “ICE strike team” in Chicago soon.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/27/trump-chicago-ice-military/

[moniss]

1. Chicago has a very large number of

immigrants from East European countries and Russia who came during the '60's and '70's and all weren't "by the book" or left when their visa expired. We'll see if ICE-American Gestapo goes after them. I highly doubt it because their enforcement vision is limited to brown and black people.

[slightlv]

2. And I unfortunately can see a lot of gangs gather to specifically target

ICE, police, and national guard. All trump is doing is throwing match on embers that were dying down, lighting them aflame once again. Not to mention, it'll be a cold day in hell before normal people ever see the police or law/military people as "friendly" partners. They will be just as despised as they were during the 60's and 70's, if not more so. Not one of them will be trusted to honest and forthright, unless personally known to an individual. trumps continuing constitutionally illegal invasions of cities (especially blue cities) sets law enforcement back decades and completely divides and politicizes them. As he continues, there will not be ONE aspect of life in the normal American citizen that won't be overtly politicized. Shame on him! As though he can't kill us all fast enough himself, he'll ensure he terrorizes entire groups of citizens against each other to help him by slaughtering each other.

[moniss]

4. Excellent point and yes I do expect the

Chicago gangs aren't going to stand by and do nothing. We don't know if ICE-American Gestapo will just do some Home Depots etc. because, given how scared they are to go into an actual area of crime in DC, I think they know they will be outgunned or at least nearly matched.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. My husband and I had stayed at the Naval Station in Guerney a number of times while on trips.

There is a nice Navy Lodge there. A Bar and Grill as well. We stayed there when going up to Kenosha to the Bristol Renaissance Festival if there were no rooms in Kenosha.

The thought of Noem tarnishing the place with her goons, riles me to no end.

[Prairie Gates]

5. North Chicago is quite a ways from Chicago

The Naval Station Great Lakes is a hike from downtown Chicago, much less the South and West Sides. It's practically in Wisconsin.

Are they going to be patrolling the North Side? Wrigleyville? Lincoln Park? Ravenswood? I hear the crime wave in North Center is off the charts...