Trump Administration’s 2020 Plan to Deploy Federal Agents, National Guard to Chicago Recalled

In a significant move that stirred controversy during his presidency, Donald Trump’s administration had planned to deploy federal immigration agents and potentially National Guard troops to Chicago, operating from Naval Station Great Lakes, in a bid to address perceived rising crime rates. This initiative, which was slated to run from September 2-30, 2020, involved personnel from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

An email from Navy Captain Stephen Yargosz to his leadership team, dated August 2020, confirmed the housing of these agents at the suburban naval base. Yargosz noted similarities to operations conducted in Los Angeles earlier that summer and hinted at the potential inclusion of National Guard units, though details remained sparse at the time. The operation was intended to focus on “downtown Chicago,” pending formal approval from then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The plan drew immediate and strong condemnation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, who stated they had received no prior consultation or information regarding the federal deployment. They argued that Chicago’s crime rates had already significantly fallen and that such an uninvited federal intervention was unnecessary, potentially illegal, and an overreach of federal power. Critics also raised concerns about the impact on military readiness and the democratic process.

The White House, DHS, ICE, CBP, and the Defense Department had largely declined to comment at the time. Trump, however, publicly vacillated on the issue, at times demanding Pritzker request aid and at others threatening unilateral action, emphasizing his self-proclaimed ability to curb crime. Illinois officials had indicated they were exploring all legal avenues to challenge any federal deployment. The plans also followed similar federal actions in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, where federal agents and National Guard troops had been deployed to quell protests and enforce immigration policies.

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