The Division of Homeland Safety requested the Pentagon to accommodate roughly 250 federal brokers and 140 autos at a navy base in Illinois forward of an anticipated enhance in immigration roundups within the Chicago space, in accordance with an inside authorities memo obtained by CBS Information.
In a request for help to the Division of Protection, a high Homeland Safety official indicated the Naval Station Nice Lakes — the most important navy base in Illinois and the Navy’s largest coaching station — could be used as a staging space to supervise “elimination operations” within the metropolitan Chicago space focusing on immigrants suspected of being within the U.S. illegally.
The memo referred to as for parts of the naval station for use by Homeland Safety brokers as a command put up and tactical operations heart, citing the infrastructure on the base and its location close to a freeway. It additionally requested storage for medical provides and fewer deadly munitions.
The request was formally made final week, and Homeland Safety personnel and gear started arriving on the naval station earlier this week, a U.S. official acquainted with the operation advised CBS Information. The naval station is situated about 50 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan.
CBS Information and different information retailers reported late final month the Trump administration had made inside preparations to quickly mount a significant immigration enforcement marketing campaign within the Chicago space, mirroring the operations that triggered large protests in Southern California earlier this 12 months. Officers mentioned the operations may begin as early as Friday.
The inner memo mentioned Homeland Safety officers would wish the bottom for 30 days, suggesting the immigration crackdown in Chicago may final for weeks.
It is unclear the place precisely in Chicago the immigration sweeps may happen, however the marketing campaign is predicted to be spearheaded by brokers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety. CBP performed a significant function within the immigration roundups within the Los Angeles area earlier this 12 months, dispatching brokers to raid Residence Depot parking tons, workplaces and different places.
In a press release to CBS Information, DHS mentioned it’s going to “go to wherever these legal unlawful aliens are — together with Chicago, Boston, and different cities.”
“Underneath President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a protected haven for legal unlawful aliens,” the division mentioned. “When you come to our nation illegally and break our legal guidelines, we are going to hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you’ll by no means return.”
Representatives for the Division of Protection didn’t reply to requests for touch upon DHS’ use of the Nice Lakes naval station.
Earlier than President Trump took workplace for a second time, the navy’s function in supporting immigration enforcement was restricted. Democratic and Republican administrations each deployed some troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, for instance, to assist Border Patrol brokers.
However the second Trump administration has used the American navy in unprecedented methods to help its mass deportation efforts, deploying hundreds of extra troops to the southern border, utilizing navy planes for deportations and tasking Nationwide Guard items with supporting ICE detention facilities. It has additionally transformed components of navy installations — together with the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and Fort Bliss in Texas — into detention services for these awaiting deportation.
In June, Mr. Trump deployed hundreds of Nationwide Guardsmen and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, citing situations of violence in protests towards immigration sweeps within the space. He directed the guardsmen and marines to guard federal buildings and brokers.
The deployment of the California Nationwide Guard — towards the needs of Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat — was just lately dominated unlawful by a federal decide who mentioned the Trump administration had “willfully” violated federal legislation typically prohibiting using the navy for civilian legislation enforcement.
Mr. Trump additionally just lately deployed Nationwide Guard troopers and federal brokers to Washington, D.C., as a part of a crackdown on crime that has additionally concerned immigration operations. D.C.’s legal professional normal this week filed a lawsuit difficult the deployment of these Nationwide Guard items, which originated from D.C. in addition to some Republican-led states.
