President Trump's deployment of National Guard in Illinois cost taxpayers nearly $20M: Sen. Durbin

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are new details Friday about some of the costs associated with the controversial immigration enforcement effort in Chicago.

According to Sen. Dick Durbin's office, the National Guard deployment cost taxpayers nearly $20 million.

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There has been significant political and community pushback since the immigration enforcement operation began. Now that it has wrapped up, Durbin says it was a waste of taxpayer dollars, while the Trump administration is defending every dollar spent.

President Donald Trump federalized 500 members of the Texas and Illinois National Guard to help with "Operation Midway Blitz." But a federal judge blocked their actual deployment, and they never played any role in the immigration crackdown that targeted Chicago and surrounding cities for two months.

Now, according to Durbin's office, the Army is reporting that 60-day deployment cost $19.4 million.

That breaks down to more than $323,000 per day for a mission that was grounded before it ever got underway.

"Ninety eight percent of that money was wasted, wasted, to create a reign of fear and terror in the Chicago community," Durbin said. "How many people were actually detained and arrested? Six hundred: How many of that number, 600, were dangerous to the community? Sixteen people."

Gov. JB Pritzker cited a study that shows the cost to Illinois is far greater.

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"It has cost the state of Illinois, the economic situation of the state of Illinois, literally hundreds of millions of dollars, what the president has done," Pritzker said.

The assistant Department of Homeland Security Secretary defended "Operation Midway Blitz" saying, "The cost of American lives saved is uncalculatable. Our law enforcement is removing thousands of convicted murderers, rapists, child abusers from the country. Sanctuary politicians like Governor Pritzker are providing a safe haven for the world's criminal illegal aliens in Chicago on the taxpayer's dime."

Pritzker and Durbin also defended six Democrats in Congress with military or intelligence experience who called on soldiers to refuse illegal orders.

Trump called them traitors who should be charged with seditious behavior, punishable by death.

"These are decent, honorable people. They have an absolute right to stand up and say to everyone, 'follow the law,'" Pritzker said.

"And I'm afraid we've reached a point where we have to say to these soldiers, 'remember your oath to our country. It was an oath to our Constitution,'" Durbin said.

The White House press secretary defended the president's comments, saying the sanctity of the military relies on the chain of command, and if that is not followed it could cost lives.