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* Sun-Times…
Federal immigration agents and possibly National Guard troops would operate out of a suburban naval base for much of next month as part of President Donald Trump’s plan to target Chicago, officials have been told.
Agents with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection would be housed at Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago from Sept. 2-30, according to an email Monday from Navy Cpt. Stephen Yargosz to his leadership team.
“These operations are similar to what occurred in Los Angeles earlier this summer. Same DHS team,” wrote Yargosz, the commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes. “… This morning I received a call that there is the potential to also support National Guard units. Not many details on this right now. Mainly a lot of concerns and questions.”
* Scroll down…
He said the operation would focus on “downtown Chicago”
At least it’ll be convenient for most of the Chicago teevee stations, which may be the whole point.
I do feel sorry for all those folks who will have to suffer through commuting on the expressways every day. Maybe they should look into buying monthly passes from Metra.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:05 am
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Our National Guard troops have better things to do with their time.
Comment by JR Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:10 am
The National Guard thinks they can get those big trucks down the Kennedy in any reasonable period of time during THIS construction season?
Comment by Suburban Mom Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:14 am
=which may be the whole point.=
As if there was any other point.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:18 am
well, murders are not happening in large numbers down there. but if they moved into where they are happening there would probably be a whole other reflection on it. it’s true that per capita is worse elsewhere but actual numbers of murders here are staggering even as they drop from previous numbers. and every time CWB puts some video up…like the recent attack on LaSalle Street in the wee hours…there’s more for Trump to chew on.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:22 am
I foresee a lot of people WFH and a lot of bored NG soldiers.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:26 am
As expected. It’s all about the photo op. Nothing more. They want a picture of the Guard troops in front of the Bean. That’s 100% what that’s about. As someone with an office right there I can tell you the whole exercise is theater of the absurd. This ain’t where the crime is happening every day. This is just another form of owning the libs. So dumb.
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:28 am
Total waste of a lot of money. I wonder who pays for this deployment, the federal government or the state?
Comment by Dupage Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:31 am
==“These operations are similar to what occurred in Los Angeles earlier this summer. Same DHS team,”==
Let’s review the work of that DHS team from LA:
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 11:43 am
Maybe they can be detailed to trash duty like in DC
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/27/dc-national-guard-trash-removal-trump-takeover/
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:02 pm
Assuming the invasion of downtown, the real question for me remains, what will the Chicago SMSA crime rate look like during this brief period, and afterward. If Trump were serious about crime, he could easily do things with his subservient Congress to reduce crime over time.
I doubt we will see anything like this. Just a couple billion of our federal tax dollars being spend on some big city R-and-R for federal troops, with no long term results.
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:05 pm
@Homebody: and you’ll also see a lot of hurting downtown retailers and restaurants. Neither Rob Karr nor Sam Toia deserve this.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:16 pm
Maybe Ken Griffin will move back /s
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:19 pm
Coming in September?
I’m guessing this is all about trying to set up a clash with people celebrating Mexican Independence Day, especially the yahoos who block traffic Downtown.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:21 pm
The Guard should not be here at all, but if they are let them be standing at downtown intersections being traffic cops. Then the real police who are doing that now can help out in areas like Englewood to make neighborhoods like that safer for the residents.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:25 pm
If the Mayor and Governor want to “own the Cons” they could greet them with brooms and such.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:29 pm
===…they could greet them with brooms and such.===
Give them free rides on the CTA with brooms, mops and some bleach.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:32 pm
Super not good. That base can house a lot of Guard troops…a lot.
The problem I see is that this might severely hamper the Navy training going on there. Recruit training, gunnery school and service school training could be interrupted. This is a training pipeline that is absolutely critical for the Navy. These are not short term trainings either disruption to the schedule is really not good. You can’t train sailors if they have no place to stay.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:35 pm
That is a three hour commute during rush hour, minimum.
Agreed, they might want to consider Metra.
I do not know what ICE hopes to accomplish downtown, but I have serious concerns for the hospitality industry. I hope the hotels and restaurants just post signs on their front doors that state “ICE is prohibited from entering without a warrant. Violators will be arrested.” Hire off-duty Chicago cops as security to enforce it, sit back, and watch the fun.
The Expressway overpasses will likely be lined with banners daily.
What Trump is going to find I think is that Chicago media are very “hometown,” unlike DC and LA. He might get the national headlines he wants, but reporting from Chicago outlets will not be flattering to say the least.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:37 pm
Presumably they will be joining police and CTA security standing randomly around platforms. That should help a lot.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:37 pm
=they want a picture of the Guard troops in front of the Bean. That’s 100% what that’s about.=
It’s a distraction from Epstein. That’s 100% what it’s about.
Comment by Chicago Voter Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:45 pm
If they are as active as federal law enforcement is at Union Station this will involve groups of officers standing in clumps and not seeming to do much
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:46 pm
Why stay in North Chicago when the upper deck at Sox Park will be empty all month?
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:49 pm
At least they can have the best pizza (Quonset on Grand Avenue in Waukegan) and barbeque (Big Ed’s or Test Kitchen’s - it’s a toss-up) in Chicagoland. If they could swing by Prospect Heights on the way down, they could have the best tacos! (El Paisa Allegre)
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:50 pm
I certainly think this is a waste of resources, but wouldn’t the photo ops from sending the National Guard to the rougher parts of Chicago be better than bored looking troops in front of the Bean? The Trump administration has the opportunity to play jiu jitsu with Gov. Pritzker by highlighting the areas long neglected by the Democrats. The Gov is showing videos of the lake front and the majestic skyline. If you want to show crime, send the NG to O Block.
But that would take deeper thinking than what the Trump administration is capable of.
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:50 pm
===send the NG to O Block===
To do… what? No federal buildings to protect there. Would they just be on trash duty?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:58 pm
Agree with Rich on using Metra. Definitely recommend that Homeland Security take Metra from Great Lakes to Ogilvie in Chicago.
No need to clog the highways with military equipment day after day. If barriers are needed, the City of Chicago garbage trucks and salt trucks are available and served as barricades in the past.
That may not serve as a photo op but it would certainly improve traffic on the highways into the city.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 12:59 pm
===Then the real police who are doing that now===
Most of that is handled by traffic control aides.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:00 pm
“every time CWB puts some video up…like the recent attack on LaSalle Street in the wee hours…there’s more for Trump to chew on.”
Like that one he just posted today of the teens in Beverly doing the attempted murder at the park? I don’t think that one will catch on, the kids weren’t the right color for Fox airtime.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:02 pm
Oh. So they aren’t going to Englewood or the West Side just like we thought. Imagine that.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:11 pm
I agree with all. It will be political theater. The Bean and other locations around River North, Michigan Ave, Navy Pier, the lakefront, and maybe even Streeterville, just to be right next to JB.
They won’t be in areas on the west side or the south side, nor will they go past Lincoln Park to the north.
If they really want to have any impact, they should be put on the CTA train lines.
Comment by Frida's Boss Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:18 pm
===No federal buildings to protect there.===
There’s got to be a post office nearby. Maybe they can help get the mail delivered a bit faster too.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:19 pm
@Rich
Sure? This is obviously a photo op to look tough on crime, so they might as well get a good photo of looking like they are stopping crime. They can pose for 5 minutes, then pick up trash.
Again, it’s a tremendous waste of resources, but the Trump administration might as well get something out of it. Otherwise, he’s just handing Gov. Pritzker ammo for his inevitable presidential campaign.
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:30 pm
This is a joke.
I am opposed to it, but if POTUS was serious about crime, GO TO ENGLEWOOD.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:39 pm
“it’s true that per capita is worse elsewhere but actual numbers of murders here are staggering even as they drop from previous numbers”
Cancer numbers are bad, too. Should we deploy the National Guard to the oncology wards?
The presence of armed American soldiers doesn’t magically solve a problem.
If you don’t believe me, Google “Iraq War”
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Aug 27, 25 @ 1:43 pm