(NewsNation) — Illinois lawmakers hoping to learn more about a looming large-scale federal operation targeting Chicago were denied access to Department of Homeland Security officials on Friday in what one senior U.S. Senator described as a “terrible act of political theater” by the Trump administration.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., along with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider, another Democrat, visited Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, hoping to learn more about the upcoming mission, which some local officials said could last up to six weeks, Durbin said at a news confernece.
Durbin said that DHS officials said they were “not available” and prevented lawmakers from entering a building at the base that is expected to be used by DHS.
“This kind of secrecy is not part of our government and shouldn’t be,” Durbin said Friday. “It’s an indication that there’s something about his mission they don’t want the people to know.”
The three lawmakers toured a portion of the Naval base, which is being used as part of the operation, on Friday. Duckworth said at a news conference that Naval officials confirmed that no barracks would be provided to house federal agents and that federal agents would only be working in office space. She also said that DHS is prohibited from store any lethal weapons at the base during the time agents are there.
The Chicago area is bracing for large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, which Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker predicted could begin Friday.
Local reports have suggested up to 300 ICE officers will soon assemble at the Naval Station Great Lakes, and operations could start as early as Friday or Saturday.
The expected federal crackdown comes as Chicago prepares for Mexican Independence Day celebrations next week, including the now-postponed “El Grito Chicago” event, NewsNation reported on Thursday.
Pritzker has encouraged Chicagoans to celebrate as planned and to protest if possible, but warned residents and activists not to “play into their hand” when encountering federal forces.
“Part of their kind of nefarious plan is, begin with ICE, cause mayhem on the ground, and, by doing that, say that there’s a need for military troops on the ground to protect ICE,” Pritzker said.
There was no evidence the National Guard had been officially called into the city as of Friday morning, but Pritzker has vowed to sue if troops set foot in Chicago.
President Donald Trump has not decided whether to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, a source familiar with the planning tells NewsNation. A potential timeline of a decision is not known. Earlier this week, Trump indicated that the National Guard “was going in”, but he did not say when. He later indicated that because Pritzker had not asked for his help, he would consider sending guardsmen to New Orleans or Baltimore before he would to Chicago.
Any guard deployment to Chicago would be separate from the sending in of federal law enforcement or immigration agents and officers in a potential crackdown on illegal migrants.
Guard soldiers are not allowed to pre-position to prepare for a possible deployment until an activation order is signed. Administration officials have refused to say how likely it is the guard will be sent to Chicago.
Illinois leaders head to Naval Station Great Lakes
Schneider, Sens. Durbin and Duckworth spoke on Friday at the Naval Station Great Lakes, which is expected to house hundreds of federal agents involved in the operations. NewsNation will stream the event live from this story when it begins.
Durbin has called Trump’s efforts to use the Naval base “unhelpful and illegal.”
Durbin said Friday that a similar operation that took place this summer in Los Angeles has already cost taxpayers $140 million. Durbin said he is not yet sure what will take place in Chicago, but said if Trump wanted to reduce crime in Chicago, he should devote more federal funding to stop the flow of illegal guns into Illinois.
Durbin said Trump would not do that, but instead, planned to put federal troops on Chicago streets to “embarrass Democrats.” Durbin called the operation a waste of taxpayer dollars that would not reduce crime in Chicago.
Duckworth, who sits on the Armed Forces Committee, said Friday that she was there to ensure that federal funding designated for military readiness would not be used on the operation, with the Naval Base being used as a staging area for federal troops.
Duckworth said that officials were assured by Naval command personnel on Friday that the base’s daily operations would not be diverted by ICE. However, she said that lawmakers would “keep an eye” on the operation to make sure that remains the case.
Durbin said that the base was initially contacted by DHS on Aug. 14 and that the request was for a month’s time.
An existing ICE detention center in Broadview, Illinois, is set to become the central processing hub and will be running around the clock for the next 45 days.
Immigration advocates said the facility — which is the site of frequent protests — has no beds, no showers and no cafeteria. The complaints led four Democratic members of Illinois’ congressional delegation to attempt an unscheduled visit to the site in June.
Chicago unveils immigrant resources ahead of ICE operations
Chicago’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights updated its website with step-by-step guidance on how immigrants can protect themselves, including user-friendly content explaining their rights.
The website also provides an “essential checklist for new arrivals,” with links to resources to assist in securing food and shelter, obtaining proper government identification, enrolling children in school, riding public transportation and seeking help from local community centers, among other tasks.
NewsNation’s Anna Kutz, partner The Hill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.