ICE seeks access to Naval Station Great Lakes to aid Chicago-area operations

(CHICAGO) Immigration and Customs Enforcement has asked to use facilities at Naval Station Great Lakes, a Navy base north of Chicago, to support a large immigration enforcement push slated for September, part of President Trump’s expanded crime and immigration agenda in 2025. The request, submitted by the Department of Homeland Security, covers September 2 through September 30, 2025, and would allow ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents to stage from the base, with the possibility of National Guard units also being stationed there. As of August 28, no final decision has been made, and approval rests with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

DHS officials say the goal is to provide the facilities, infrastructure, and logistics needed to carry out what the administration has called the “largest deportation operation” in U.S. history, with a stated target of 1 million deportations per year. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Chicago is among a short list of cities prioritized for heightened federal activity this fall, following similar staging in Los Angeles earlier this year. The Navy base—best known as the service’s largest training installation—has not previously been used for large-scale ICE operations.

Federal request and timeline

Navy Capt. Stephen Yargosz, the commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes, confirmed DHS’s formal request and said the base is assessing how it might support those needs if the Pentagon authorizes it. He noted planners have discussed the possibility of National Guard support, though specific roles, numbers, and locations remain under review.

“Planning is ongoing and details are not finalized,” he said, underscoring that the Defense Department and the White House have not yet approved the plan.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly confirmed the request and said an ICE “strike team” would arrive in the Chicago area soon. Federal officials describe these teams as specialized enforcement units designed to move quickly and coordinate with other agencies during short, focused operations. The department has not released details about targets, arrest priorities, or how the operation would interact with local law enforcement.

The final decision is expected on a tight timeline given the proposed start date of September 2. While the Pentagon has supported some DHS logistical requests elsewhere this year, officials have emphasized that each site presents different operational and legal questions. Here, the approval authority rests with Defense Secretary Hegseth, who has expressed general support for DHS’s enforcement aims but has not issued a public statement about this specific request.

ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations—responsible for arrests, detention, and deportation—would lead any on-the-ground actions in the region. The agency describes ERO’s mission on its official site, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, including coordination with other federal partners. While the base would serve primarily as a staging and support hub if approved, DHS has not said whether agents would process detainees on base or transfer them to existing facilities.

President Trump has repeatedly promised to surge federal resources to cities he views as crime hot spots and to sharply expand immigration enforcement. Administration officials argue that a temporary hub near Chicago would allow them to move agents, vehicles, and equipment more efficiently and to improve communications among participating agencies.

Local pushback and community impact

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker harshly criticized the plan, saying he “will not stand idly by” if the National Guard is deployed to Chicago, and warning that “action will be met with a response.” State and local leaders argue that using a military installation for civil enforcement sends the wrong signal, could intimidate residents, and risks complicating community-police relations.

City advocates say public trust is already fragile in many neighborhoods, and they worry that a surge of federal activity will push families further into the shadows. Federal officials insist the initiative aims to remove “the worst of the worst”—people with serious criminal records who pose risks to public safety. Critics counter that past enforcement waves have swept up parents, workers, and long-time residents with minor convictions or only immigration status violations.

For many mixed-status families, the uncertainty is already altering daily routines. Parents say they’re planning backup school pickups, making childcare arrangements, and choosing routes that avoid likely enforcement areas. Legal service providers report rising phone calls from people asking how to respond if an agent knocks at their door. Community groups are urging residents to:

• Keep identity documents in a safe place
• Avoid signing anything they don’t understand
• Contact trusted counsel if a relative is detained

If the Pentagon signs off, DHS plans to bring in additional ICE and CBP personnel for roughly four weeks, with the option to adjust staffing based on operations. Officials have not said how many agents might be assigned or whether personnel would remain in the region after September. They also have not explained the potential role of National Guard units beyond noting that Guard participation is under active discussion.

Key practical points under the plan, as described by DHS and military officials, include:

• Dates: Proposed staging from September 2–30, 2025.
• Location: Naval Station Great Lakes would provide space, housing, and logistics for federal teams.
• Status: No final decision as of August 28; review ongoing at the Defense Department.
• Scope: ICE and CBP presence would rise in and around Chicago; specific arrest targets not public.
• National Guard: Potential support discussed; details not finalized.

The request also raises questions inside the military community. Great Lakes is a basic training hub, and any new federal activity would need to avoid interfering with routine operations. Base leaders say that’s part of the ongoing planning. Families on base are watching for updates—especially about traffic changes, access points, and housing impacts—if additional federal personnel temporarily move in.

Legal, political, and operational crosscurrents

The plan highlights a broader debate over the role of military installations in domestic immigration enforcement. While DHS is a civilian department, it has sometimes leaned on federal facilities for logistics during major operations. Supporters say shared infrastructure can lower costs and improve coordination. Opponents argue the move blurs lines between military and civilian roles and risks normalizing the presence of armed federal teams near communities already wary of law enforcement.

Politically, the Chicago request sets up another clash between the White House and Democratic leaders in Illinois. State officials are exploring options to respond if the National Guard deploys to the base or if enforcement actions intensify across the region. Legal challenges are possible from advocacy groups that question the scale of the operation and the use of military property for non-military purposes. Those groups often seek emergency court orders to limit the scope of arrests or to demand more transparency around custody decisions.

For immigrants in the Chicago area, practical preparation matters. Attorneys advise families to:

1. Create written emergency plans for children and caregivers.
2. List key phone numbers and emergency contacts.
3. Know basic rights if approached by an officer (right to remain silent, ask for a lawyer).

Community organizations add that families should keep proof of long-term residence, medical needs, and any pending immigration filings together so counsel can respond quickly if someone is detained. Advocates caution that rumors spread fast during enforcement surges and urge residents to rely on trusted local groups rather than social media chatter.

Even as the Pentagon weighs its decision, some parts of the plan are clear. If approved, the base would provide staging areas, short-term lodging, and logistical support to federal teams for the month of September. DHS would coordinate across agencies to move personnel in and out, and command staff would monitor operations daily.

Any role for the National Guard remains uncertain, and officials have not said whether Guard units would be federalized or remain under state control if they participate.

What could happen next

A decision could come at any time before September 2. Possible outcomes include:

• Approval: The base becomes a temporary federal hub; the operation could be a model for other cities.
• Denial: DHS would need alternative staging sites in the region or might scale back the planned surge.

DHS officials say they want flexible staging sites that can support fast deployments while keeping agents close to target areas.

The certainty: Naval Station Great Lakes is under formal consideration as a federal hub, and the White House has signaled its intent to escalate enforcement nationwide.
The unknowns: exactly who would be targeted, how many agents would arrive, and what role the National Guard might play if called in.

Communities, service members, and local leaders are waiting for Defense Secretary Hegseth to decide, knowing that a single approval could reshape September for thousands of families across the region.