Federal immigration agents are assembling near Chicago and are expected to be ready by Friday for an operation centered on Broadview and the Great Lakes area that officials say will run for roughly 45 days and focus on immigration arrests and processing.
Key Takeaways
- State officials say federal immigration personnel will be assembled locally by Friday, though a start date for arrests is not confirmed.
- Broadview officials wrote that the village’s immigration processing center will serve as the operation’s primary processing site.
- Reports indicate more than 200 agents are being staged at or near the Great Lakes naval base; some sources describe tactical training and crowd-control practice.
- The New York Times reported DHS sought facilities at Great Lakes to house roughly 250 personnel and support equipment, including space for vehicles and less-lethal munitions.
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago leaders say they cannot block federal immigration enforcement but are preparing for protests and legal responses.
- Local data cited by officials show major declines in homicides, robberies and shootings this year, which state leaders have highlighted in criticizing the federal approach.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 3, 2025, Illinois officials said federal immigration teams would be organized locally and likely ready by Friday. Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters the presence of assembled agents does not necessarily mean arrests will begin that day; the administration has not confirmed a start date.
The mayor of Broadview, where ICE operates a processing facility, sent a letter to residents notifying them that federal authorities had indicated a “large-scale enforcement campaign” would begin soon and that the Broadview facility would be the primary processing location for the operation.
Reporting from regional outlets indicates more than 200 agents, including personnel from Customs and Border Protection, are being sent to the area and that some agents already at Great Lakes have been observed conducting crowd-control drills using shields and flash-bang devices. A New York Times report described Department of Homeland Security plans to use space at the naval station to support about 250 personnel and store equipment, vehicles and medical and less-lethal supplies.
Context & Impact
State and city officials stressed they cannot legally prevent federal immigration enforcement but are coordinating to keep local law enforcement from directly assisting raids and to prepare for public demonstrations. The governor’s office said it is warning Chicago police and other local agencies to expect protests and to maintain distance from federal actions.
Chicago leaders have pointed to recent public-safety data showing significant year-to-date declines in violent crime measures: officials cite roughly a 30% drop in homicides, a 35% drop in robberies and nearly a 40% reduction in shootings in the city this year. State officials also highlighted community violence intervention programs and local investments credited with reducing shootings where deployed.
Advocates, community groups and some elected officials are preparing legal and community responses. A federal judge recently found that deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles in a previous immigration-related response violated federal law, a ruling publicized by the Associated Press and cited by critics as precedent for legal challenges.
Official Statements
“We cannot stand in the way of federal enforcement, but we will work to ensure the law is followed and that community safety is preserved,”
Gov. JB Pritzker
Unconfirmed
- Whether arrests or raids will begin on the day agents are reported to be assembled is not confirmed.
- It is not confirmed whether the National Guard or active-duty military will be deployed to Chicago in connection with this operation.
- Exact total number of federal personnel to be involved, beyond reported estimates, has not been independently verified.
Bottom Line
Federal authorities are staging a multiweek immigration operation around Chicago with Broadview and the Great Lakes naval area serving as key logistical points. Local leaders are preparing for protests and legal responses while underlining that federal enforcement actions cannot be blocked by state or city government.
Expect continued updates from officials and local outlets as agencies confirm deployment dates, scope and tactics, and as community groups and legal advocates respond.