A leaked federal memo confirms President Trump has deployed military forces to Chicago for immigration enforcement operations, marking an unprecedented escalation in the battle against sanctuary city policies that have protected illegal immigrants for years.
Federal Forces Deploy Despite Local Resistance
The Department of Homeland Security formally requested immediate Department of Defense support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Chicago, according to a leaked memo dated August 27, 2025. The document, obtained by investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein, reveals that a military advance party has already arrived at Naval Station Great Lakes, located approximately 30 miles from downtown Chicago. This represents the first concrete evidence of active-duty military involvement in domestic immigration enforcement within a major American city.
President Trump’s bold declaration of “We’re going in” underscores his administration’s commitment to enforcing federal immigration law regardless of local political opposition. The operation directly challenges Chicago’s sanctuary city status, which has long frustrated patriots who believe local officials have prioritized protecting illegal immigrants over public safety and the rule of law.
Military Support Bypasses State National Guard
The Illinois National Guard confirmed it has received no activation orders, indicating the Trump administration is utilizing active-duty military personnel rather than state-controlled forces. This strategic decision ensures federal control over the operation without relying on potentially uncooperative state officials. The use of Naval Station Great Lakes as a staging area provides logistical advantages while symbolizing federal authority over immigration enforcement.
The memo indicates this month-long operation aims to support ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, citing national security and public safety concerns. This approach demonstrates the administration’s recognition that decades of failed local policies have created a crisis requiring decisive federal intervention to protect American communities from the consequences of unchecked illegal immigration.
Sanctuary City Officials Mount Opposition
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have expressed strong opposition to the federal military deployment, reflecting the typical progressive resistance to enforcing immigration law. Their objections highlight the fundamental conflict between federal constitutional authority over immigration and local policies that have systematically undermined border security. This resistance exemplifies how sanctuary city policies have created a dangerous precedent of local governments defying federal law.
Troops Might Already Be in Chicago, Leaked Memo Says
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The Trump administration’s willingness to deploy military support for immigration enforcement represents a necessary response to years of local obstruction that has allowed criminal aliens to evade removal. This operation establishes crucial precedent for future enforcement actions in other sanctuary jurisdictions that have similarly flouted federal immigration law, potentially restoring the rule of law that sanctuary policies have systematically eroded.
Sources:
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Troops Might Already Be in Chicago, Leaked Memo Says
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