The administration is looking to utilize a naval base near Chicago to assist in its immigration detention operations as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts against illegal immigration.
According to base spokesman Matt Mogul, DHS has requested “limited support in the form of facilities, infrastructure, and other logistics needs to support the operation of DHS.” However, he clarified that no final decisions have been made yet, and the base, situated about 35 miles from Chicago, has not received an official request for National Guard assistance.
As President Trump intensifies his measures to tackle crime, there are rising calls for the base’s involvement, particularly as he moves forward with deploying National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. He previously sent soldiers to Los Angeles amid protests related to heightened local actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Tom Homan, the administration’s point person on border issues, confirmed discussions about potentially using the Chicago base for immigrant enforcement operations. “It’s being debated. Perhaps by the end of the day we’ll have more clarity,” he mentioned to reporters at the White House.
This deployment could involve over 200 DHS personnel using the base for staging purposes. Reports indicate that the base could provide the required “facilities, infrastructure, and other logistics needs” if the DHS proposal is greenlit. Requests for additional space for around 250 DHS staff have also been made.
The discussions around the base’s use come in the wake of Trump’s criticism of Illinois lawmakers, including Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson, regarding crime rates in the city.
Both Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker have countered Trump’s comments. Earlier in the week, Pritzker advised the president against deploying the National Guard to Chicago, stating, “Instead, I say, ‘President, don’t come to Chicago.’ You don’t want it here, and you don’t need it here.”
The possibility of utilizing naval bases may also lead to plans for establishing detention facilities in the U.S., particularly following the recent opening of “Wannable Catraz” in Florida.
