Chicago federal intervention: Tracking surge in immigration enforcement operations

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has left its "Operation Midway Blitz" command center at Naval Station Great Lakes, city officials confirmed to ABC7 Chicago Sunday.

The development comes as 200 federalized Texas National Guard members also vacated the base this week, and Customs and Border Protection Cmdr. Greg Bovino also left the Chicago area, being seen during a new surge in immigration enforcement in Charlotte, North Carolina.

DHS was using the command center at Naval Station Great Lakes as it conducted a surge in immigration enforcement across the Chicago area.

An official with the City of North Chicago shared the following statement with ABC7 Chicago on Sunday:
"Mayor Leon Rockingham is pleased to report that the Department of Homeland Security has left its command center at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago. The City of North Chicago was informed of the closure late Friday afternoon, November 14, 2025, according to Gregory Jackson, Chief of Staff.
"The departure comes two months after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first secured the property to support 'Operation Midway Blitz,' President Donald Trump's escalated deportation campaign in the Chicago area. The Command Center at Naval Station Great Lakes provided office space, parking spots, and portable laundry units to the federal agents. It has also functioned as a training and storage facility.
"In October, DHS officials said it planned to use the North Chicago command center through at 'least December.' The early departure ends weeks of turmoil and disruption to daily life. Mayor Rockingham and the City Council wish to thank and acknowledge the heroic efforts of the entire North Chicago community who worked together tirelessly to keep everyone safe and informed about ICE's actions in the community. The spirit of neighbor helping neighbor sustains all of us in times of need. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER."

The 200 federalized Texas National Guardsmen sent to the Chicago area will return to their home state, two U.S. officials told ABC News.

The federalized Guardsmen arrived to the Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago in early October, but they never deployed operationally because of legal challenges that continue playing out in court.

Late Friday night, U.S. Northern Command hinted that changes were coming to the federalized troop mission in those cities but provided no details when it it posted on X that "in the coming days, the Department will be shifting and/or rightsizing our Title 10 footprint in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago to ensure a constant, enduring, and long-term presence in each city."

The 200 Illinois National Guardsmen who had also been federalized by President Trump to operate in the Chicago will remain on active duty, an official said.

Residents were shoulder-to-shoulder in Chicago's East Side neighborhood Friday, marching in the streets in a call for solidarity.

"It's not a Democratic or Republican issue. It's a non-partisan," said Frank Corona with the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees. "This is about us, the people. We the people."

Neighbors lit candles on the same corner at 105th Street and Avenue N, where exactly one month ago, Oct. 14, neighbors confronted federal immigration agents after a 30-minute pursuit around the neighborhood of alleged undocumented suspects led to a crash in the community of working families.

"It made people realize that, you know, we've seen a lot of things going on in the news, and right then it was right at their front door," said Samuel Corona with Bridges // Puentes: Justice Collective of the Southeast.

Eggs and rocks were thrown at agents, who then deployed tear-gas that was exposed to residents and more than a dozen CPD officers

Agents detained two teens, who were later released, officials said. Both said they were U.S. citizens.

"I saw a community come together," 10th Ward Ald. Peter Chico said. "I am extremely proud of what I saw that day and what has happened since then.

The ABC7 I-Team has obtained new details on the list submitted by the Department of Homeland Security of the more than 600 migrants that a judge has ordered to be released by next Friday.

The judge had ruled that those 614 people should not be in custody while it's determined whether they were arrested in violation of a previous consent decree - unless they posed a "high public safety risk."

According to the list from DHS that ABC7 obtained from a court filing, 42 people were categorized as posing a "high" risk, and 101 people on the list are no longer in custody.

That leaves at least 471 people who could be eligible for release by next Friday - pending an appeal by the government.