Protests eruptโ in โคNorth Chicago as Federal Agents Prepare for Immigration โฃEnforcement Surge
NORTH CHICAGO,IL – May 18,2024 – Demonstrations are underway in North Chicago andโ Waukegan as federal agents prepare tooโค utilizeโ naval Station Great Lakes as a base of operations forโค increased immigration enforcement inโ theโ Chicago area. The planned operation, expected to last approximately one month, follows a โฃsocial media postโ by former President Donald โคTrump referencing increasedโค deportations, sparking widespread concern โขand condemnation from local leaders.
According to NBC Chicago, Homeland Security officialsโข requested use of the Navalโข Station, seeking โคspace for 250 personnel, a “Tactical Operations โคCenter,” and an “Incident Command Post,” alongside logistical support includingโ parking for 140 โคvehicles and storage for supplies, โincluding โขnon-lethal weaponry like rubber bullets and tear gas. Federal agents will also utilize โขoffice spaces inโข North chicago and stay in Lake County hotels.
Protestorsโ voiced anxieties about the impact onโฃ their communities. “I’m standing out hear because a lot of people I know and โฃlove they’re too scared to be out hereโค or they can’t be out here, so I decided toโ come out here and be theโค voice for them,” said Lina Alvarez of North Chicago. A retired Army veteranโข with four deployments, Alvarez expressed her dismay, stating, “It hurtsโข to โsee service members โthat โIโข consider brothers and sisters weaponizedโฃ against my community, people, who โขI love.”
Rosa โRivas, a Waukegan resident, questioned the former president’s motives, saying, “Does he [Trump] โฃseriously not have a heart?” Ellen Montgomery, also of Waukegan, labeled the planned enforcement “illegal” and “unlawful,” emphasizing theโ local impact: “these are โฃmy โneighborsโ they’re after. We have to take care โขof โฃeach other.”
The situation โescalated after trump’s post on Truth Social, writing, “Iโข love the smell of deportations in the โmorning. Chicago about toโฃ find out โคwhyโ it’s โคcalled the Departmentโ of War.”
illinoisโข Governor JB Pritzker responded on X, stating, “Theโฃ president of the United States is threatening to go toโข war withโ an American city. This is โnot a joke.โข Thisโข is not normal.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also โขtook to X, writing, “The president’s threats are โขbeneath the honorโข of ourโข nation, but the โฃreality is that he wants to occupy our city โand break our constitution.”
