On Sunday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the Trump administration is set to expand immigration operations in Chicago. This move aims to increase the presence of federal agents in the nation’s third-largest city amidst ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and Illinois’ Democratic leadership. Noem's announcement follows a recent request from the DHS for logistical support from officials at the Naval Station Great Lakes, located approximately 35 miles north of Chicago, to facilitate these anticipated operations.
Noem highlighted that ongoing operations with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) are already in place in Chicago, with plans to allocate more resources to these efforts. During her appearance on CBS News’ "Face the Nation,"" she noted, “We’ve already had ongoing operations with ICE in Chicago... but we do intend to add more resources to those operations.” However, Noem refrained from disclosing specific details about the planned surge of federal officers.
This announcement comes on the heels of the Trump administration deploying National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. to address issues related to crime, immigration, and homelessness. Just two months prior, similar troops were sent to Los Angeles. In a pointed social media post, Trump criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, warning him to address Chicago’s crime problems swiftly “or we’re coming.” He has also directed criticism toward Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, further escalating the political discourse.
In response to the anticipated federal mobilization, both Pritzker and Johnson have pushed back, asserting that crime rates in Chicago have been declining. They are prepared to take legal action should Trump proceed with his immigration enforcement plans. Notably, Johnson has signed an order preventing the Chicago Police Department from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement, including during any related patrols, traffic stops, and checkpoints.
Chicago is home to a significant immigrant population, and both the city and the state of Illinois have established some of the strongest regulations in the country against cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts. This has frequently placed them at odds with the Trump administration, which seeks to implement its agenda of mass deportations.
During an interview aired on "Face the Nation," Pritzker expressed concerns that Trump’s plans to mobilize federal forces may be part of a broader strategy to “stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections.” Meanwhile, Noem defended the potential deployment of National Guard troops, suggesting it is a Trump prerogative, referencing the previous deployment in Los Angeles during immigration protests. “I do know that LA wouldn’t be standing today if President Trump hadn’t taken action,” she stated. “That city would have burned if left to the devices of the mayor and governor of that state.”
