A county board member is calling for an emergency meeting to introduce a resolution opposing Trump’s “dangerous” deployment of National Guard troops and ICE agents at a Lake County naval base.
Lake County Board Member Esiah Campos said Wednesday that he will call for an emergency meeting of the Lake County Board.
Campos said he is introducing a resolution opposing President Donald J. Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard units and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County.
Campos, a Navy reservist, said the resolution is about defending the values of Lake County and rejecting federal action that would bring fear and division into the community.
“Donald Trump’s order is reckless, dangerous, and wrong for Lake County,” Campos said.
“Naval Station Great Lakes is a place of honor, discipline, and service — not a stage for partisan political stunts. I am standing up to make sure our community’s voice is heard loud and clear: we will not allow our county to be used for intimidation or fear,” he said.
The resolution will formally declare the board’s opposition to Trump’s deployment and call on Governor J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Congressional Delegation and the Secretary of Defense to stop its implementation.
“Families connected to Great Lakes — immigrant families, service members, veterans, and civilian workers — deserve to feel safe and respected,” Campos said.
“This resolution is about drawing a line in the sand and saying: Lake County stands with its people, not with Donald Trump’s politics of division,” he added.
The resolution is expected to be introduced at the next meeting of the Lake County Board.
The organization committee for the Fiestas Patrias Parade, taking place in North Chicago and Waukegan, announced on Wednesday that they were postponing the parade that was scheduled for September 14.
They said the decision comes following reports indicating more than 300 immigration agents will be targeting Lake and Cook counties.
The organization said hosting the parade poses risks to families and vulnerable members of the community.
“It was also considered that this situation could be interpreted as a potential call to immigration authorities since thousands of attendees were expected and the large numbers would be eye-catching,” the committee said.
Reporters asked Trump on Tuesday if he had decided to send National Guard troops to Chicago and he responded by saying, “We’re going in.” He did not provide a timeframe.
Trump referenced the number of people who had been shot and murdered in the city over the weekend.
“In the last three weeks he’s [Governor Pritzker] lost almost 20 people killed. There’s no place in the world, including you can go to Afghanistan. They don’t even come close to this,” Trump said.
The president called Chicago a “hellhole” and also made the same comment about Baltimore.
“If the governor of Illinois would call me up, I would love to do it. Now we’re going to do it anyway because I have an obligation to protect this country and that includes Baltimore,” Trump said.
ICE and other federal agents are going to be operating out of Naval Station Great Lakes as part of Trump’s enhanced immigration operations in the Chicago area, a move local officials have opposed.
Lake County Government and the City of North Chicago issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying they are aware of recent reports regarding “unprecedented federal operations” that will be based out of Naval Station Great Lakes.
“We understand that these developments have created anxiety and uncertainty for many in our community, and we want to speak directly to those concerns,” the statement said.
The government bodies said the activities are coordinated entirely at the federal level and under Illinois law, local and state law enforcement agencies cannot participate in federal immigration enforcement.
“We know that this situation may cause fear, especially for immigrant families,” the statement said.
Residents seeking assistance or reliable information are asked to connect with trusted organizations such as the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Prairie State Legal Services and Mano-A-Mano Family Resource Center.
“North Chicago is a proud and diverse city, defined by faith, resilience, compassion and courage. In the face of these federal operations, those values guide how we support one another and stand strong together,” the statement said.
“In the same spirit, Lake County is, and will continue to be, a welcoming community for all people, embracing every race, religion, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability. Lake County’s commitment to inclusion and dignity for every resident will not waiver, no matter the challenges we face,” the statement added.
The two government bodies also said that the presence of the operations should not reflect negatively on Naval Station Great Lakes, its leadership or the men and women who serve there.
“The base has long been a cornerstone of our region and our partnership will continue to remain strong. While these developments may feel unsettling, please know this: you are not alone. Your community stands with you and together we will navigate this moment with care, steadiness and resolve,” the statement said.