Photo of Colin Lloyd in Unsplash
In recent hours, the Trump administration recently requested access to the Great Lakes Naval Station, located approximately 56 km north of Chicago, to provide logistical support for ICE and other federal immigration enforcement operations planned for September. Facilities, infrastructure, and other resources would be offered from September 2 to 30.
The Pentagon is also considering the possible deployment of thousands of National Guard troops, and in some scenarios even active units, as part of a broader strategy to address crime, undocumented immigration, and homelessness in Democratic-led cities, including Chicago.
State and municipal authorities, such as Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have spoken out strongly against these initiatives. Pritzker emphasized that "Chicago neither needs nor wants military intervention" and lamented the lack of communication with the White House. Mayor Johnson warned that this measure could undermine trust between the community and law enforcement.
Democratic leaders like Congressman Hakeem Jeffries accused the president of “manufacturing a crisis” for political purposes.
Legal experts have questioned the legitimacy of this type of deployment. They point out that the Posse Comitatus Act limits the use of military forces for internal security purposes, and its application could be outside the scope of current regulations without a clear legal justification, such as an insurrection or declared emergency.
The request to use the military base for ICE operations and the possible deployment of military troops to Chicago could trigger a political and constitutional crisis, with the only hope being a clash between federal power and local Democratic governments.
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