What does ICE surge mean for Great Lakes naval base? Lawmakers explain as ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ launches
Illinois lawmakers vowed to keep Naval Station Great Lakes true to its mission as the home of the U.S. Navy’s largest training center despite its new role as a staging area for a deportation surge.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Monday launched a long-expected ramp-up of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Chicago.
Dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, officials called Chicago “a sanctuary city that attracts and protects criminal illegal aliens to the detriment of law-abiding citizens,” in a social media post.
On Friday, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider called the action a stunt that could have a negative effect on Navy.
The station “is one of the most important defense facilities in the United States,” Durbin said. “Every man and woman who enlists in the U.S. Navy goes through those gates and faces initially nine weeks of basic training.
“My major concern was to make sure no exercise of political theater is an obstacle to the mission of the Great Lakes training station.”
Schneider noted, “There are 10,000 to 12,000 recruits on base going through basic training, learning to become sailors, essential for the security of our nation.”
The Democratic lawmakers met with Great Lakes’ Rear Admiral Matthew T. Pottenburgh about the impact of the DHS contingent.
The Navy “is deeply concerned about the community,” Duckworth of Hoffman Estates said. “They are concerned about their sailors and their training and they are making sure that is being held up to their highest standards.”
DHS is being told they “cannot bring lethal munitions, they are only getting office space itself, there are no barracks for them to use,” Duckworth said, adding detainees will not be housed at the base in North Chicago.
No resources will be diverted from training, she noted.
“I do ask the community that as you deal with the members of the Navy, with our sailors, remember these are men and women who swore an oath of office to defend us,” said Duckworth, a veteran who was wounded in the Iraq War.
“They’re doing their jobs … and are doing everything they can to remain apolitical in these terrible conditions.”
DHS’ initial request is to use Great Lakes for 30 days, from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5.
President Donald Trump said on social media Monday that “I want to help the people of Chicago, not hurt them. Only the criminals will be hurt!”
So far, the White House has not provided any information regarding ICE or National Guard troops that the president has promised to deploy in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said Monday.
“This is not about seriously fighting crime or reforming immigration — it’s about Trump’s plan to go to war with America’s third-largest city,” spokesman Matt Hill said.