In a recent development, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his administration would be "going in" to Chicago, following a weekend that witnessed seven fatalities and 54 injuries due to shootings.
This announcement comes on the heels of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially requesting the Department of Defense's "assistance in support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Removal Operations" at the Naval Station in Great Lakes, Illinois. However, Trump has yet to mobilize the National Guard to address the escalating crime rates in Chicago.
According to The Post Millennial, a memo acquired by Ken Klippenstein reveals that the DHS "requests immediate Department of Defense support to provide existing infrastructure to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, a component of DHA, to conduct operations in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area."
The memo further emphasizes that such support is vital for the "efficient and secure handling of aliens in accordance with federal regulations and in line with ICE's ongoing efforts to address public safety and national security."
The memo, issued by DHS executive secretary Andrew Whitaker, identifies Chicago as a pivotal location for the support of DHS detention, processing, and removal operations conducted by ICE/ERO in the Chicago Area of Responsibility (AOR). Whitaker indicates that the Naval Station "contains the required facilities and support infrastructure" to facilitate DHS operations. Key facilities identified by the DHS include highway access, fuel, and "other logistical nodes."
This request comes in the wake of Trump's executive orders concerning the military's role in safeguarding territorial integrity and declaring a national emergency at the southern border, among others. The Trump administration had previously hinted at the possibility of utilizing a military base near Chicago to stage operations in support of immigration enforcement.
Despite objections from Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to the use of federal forces to curb crime and enforce immigration law, black Chicago residents have voiced their concerns about mass migration into their city. In 2023, as the Biden administration increased illegal immigration across the U.S., Chicago residents protested against this mass influx.
One resident expressed their concerns, stating, "This is an effort to destroy our neighborhoods and silence our voices even further." J. Darnell Jones, a South Shore resident, voiced his apprehensions after a bus carrying 500 illegal immigrants arrived in the city, saying, "Politically, having over 500 people in our community would completely wipe out any interest we have."
He continued, "Are you aware that there are immigrant advocates at state houses all over this country who are advocating for non-citizen voting in local elections? What if that happened here? That would change the mindset of what we, as a black community need to thrive here In Chicago. That's a concern of ours."
In response to the influx, Mayor Johnson implemented a $51 million aid package for illegal immigrants. However, during a city council meeting, black residents demanded answers.
One resident passionately declared before the council, "We have not gotten anything for our community and we are sick and tired of being sick and tired," adding "Enough is enough."
This situation underscores the tension between local and federal authorities, the impact of immigration policies on local communities, and the ongoing struggle for resources and representation in the face of changing demographics.
The voices of the black community in Chicago echo a broader sentiment of frustration and concern, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to immigration that respects the rights and needs of all residents.
Login