Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, has returned to its usual quiet after a whirlwind two months as the epicenter of a major federal immigration enforcement operation. On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially closed its command center at the base, marking a sudden end to what had been a turbulent chapter for the city and the region. Local officials, including North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham, confirmed the closure on Sunday, November 16, 2025, bringing relief to a community that had experienced weeks of disruption and uncertainty.
The command center was established in early September 2025 as part of "Operation Midway Blitz," a sweeping initiative launched under President Donald Trump’s administration. The operation, described by DHS as an escalated deportation campaign, specifically targeted what federal authorities called "criminal illegal aliens" in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois. As ABC7 Chicago and the Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported, hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with federalized National Guard troops, were stationed at the naval base to support the operation.
According to city officials, the DHS command center at Naval Station Great Lakes provided office space, parking spots, portable laundry units, and served as a training and storage facility for federal agents. The presence of so many federal law enforcement personnel was impossible to ignore. Residents reported increased activity around the base, and local leaders acknowledged the "turmoil and disruption to daily life" that accompanied the operation. Mayor Rockingham expressed gratitude to the North Chicago community, stating, "The spirit of neighbor helping neighbor sustains all of us in times of need. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER."
The operation was launched in the wake of a tragic incident that DHS officials cited as a motivating factor: the death of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run crash caused by a Guatemalan national residing in Illinois illegally. DHS officials said the operation was named in her honor, underscoring the administration's focus on deporting individuals with criminal records. Since its inception in September, DHS reported more than 3,000 arrests in the Chicagoland area, a number that quickly became a flashpoint in local and national debates over immigration policy.
Despite the federal government’s stated intentions, the operation faced significant legal and political challenges from the outset. The Texas National Guard had deployed approximately 200 members to Naval Station Great Lakes in early October after being federalized by President Trump and placed on active duty Title 10 status. However, due to ongoing court battles and legal uncertainty, these troops never deployed operationally in Illinois. By mid-November, the Texas National Guard members vacated the base and returned to their home state. According to ABC News, Texas will maintain a force of 200 National Guard members who have volunteered for the mission, but their presence in Illinois has ended for now.
Meanwhile, 200 members of the Illinois National Guard, also federalized by President Trump to operate in Chicago, remain on active duty as of mid-November 2025. The future of their deployment remains uncertain, as the legal landscape continues to shift and state officials voice their opposition to the federal approach.
Customs and Border Protection Commander Greg Bovino, who had been a visible presence in the Chicago area during the operation, also left the region in mid-November. He was later seen in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a new surge in immigration enforcement was reportedly underway. U.S. Border Patrol agents, who had been the primary force conducting arrests in Lake County, similarly departed Illinois for North Carolina, signaling a shift in federal priorities and resources.
The abrupt closure of the command center came as a surprise to many. As recently as October, DHS officials had indicated plans to use the North Chicago facility through "at least December." The early departure, confirmed by North Chicago Chief of Staff Gregory Jackson, brought an unexpected end to weeks of heightened tension in the community. "The City of North Chicago was informed of the closure late Friday afternoon, November 14, 2025," Jackson told ABC7 Chicago. "The departure comes two months after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first secured the property to support 'Operation Midway Blitz.'"
Political leaders in Illinois were quick to respond to the developments, highlighting ongoing friction between state and federal authorities. Governor JB Pritzker’s office released a pointed statement, saying, "While there are reports the Texas guard is leaving, the Trump Administration is also saying they will keep federalizing national guards to 'ensure a constant, enduring, and long-term presence' in cities. This confirms what we have always known: this is about normalizing military forces in American cities." Pritzker emphasized Illinois’ commitment to state sovereignty, adding, "Illinois will continue fighting for our state sovereignty, protecting people's rights, and keeping our communities peaceful."
Governor Pritzker also criticized the lack of communication and coordination from the federal government, stating, "No, the Trump Administration does not provide the Governor's office updates on military movements within our state. There has never been a serious willingness from the federal government to coordinate or cooperate with the state." This lack of transparency has fueled ongoing anxiety among local officials and residents alike, who have struggled to keep pace with rapidly changing federal actions on the ground.
DHS, for its part, has defended the operation as a necessary response to what it characterizes as permissive "sanctuary" policies in Illinois. The agency claimed that illegal immigrants had "flocked" to Chicago and the state because Governor Pritzker’s policies would "protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets." In stark terms, DHS accused state leaders of enabling "TdA gang members, rapists, kidnappers, and drug traffickers" to be released onto Chicago’s streets—a claim that has been hotly contested by local officials and immigrant advocacy groups.
The debate over sanctuary policies and federal immigration enforcement is hardly new, but the events at Naval Station Great Lakes have brought these tensions into sharp relief. Supporters of the federal operation argue that aggressive enforcement is necessary to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law. Critics, meanwhile, see the deployment of military forces and large-scale ICE operations as an overreach that undermines community trust and state autonomy.
As the dust settles in North Chicago, the legacy of Operation Midway Blitz remains uncertain. The early closure of the command center may have ended one chapter, but the broader debate over immigration enforcement, state sovereignty, and the role of federal authorities in local communities is far from over. For now, residents and officials in North Chicago are taking a collective breath, grateful for a return to normalcy but watchful for what may come next on the ever-shifting landscape of American immigration policy.
