President Donald Trump said Thursday his administration is prepared to send federal resources to Chicago to enforce immigration laws and detain undocumented immigrants, drawing sharp opposition from local and state leaders.
The deployment would include Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and potentially National Guard troops, as part of a broader Trump administration policy announced Jan. 21, 2025, to step up enforcement against people in the country without legal authorization — particularly those deemed threats to public safety.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order challenging the move, calling it unconstitutional. Gov. J.B. Pritzker also voiced opposition but said violent offenders should be removed from Illinois regardless of immigration status.
Chicago has taken in more than 51,000 migrants since December 2022 at a cost of about $2.5 billion, much of it for health care. Sanctuary policies have further complicated enforcement, limiting the role of local authorities.
? BREAKING – IT’S HERE: President Trump will IMMINENTLY deploy a surge of federal resources to Chicago en masse to round up illegal aliens.
The DHS has already requested support.
Here we go.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. Pritzker FURIOUS. pic.twitter.com/tPsjpJLQ8g
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 4, 2025
The Pentagon has approved the use of a Navy base outside Chicago as a staging ground for immigration enforcement operations, two defense officials told The Washington Post. The move signals the Trump administration is preparing to deploy federal resources to the city.
“Naval Station Great Lakes will serve as a hub in upcoming operations overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue,” it added.
