NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (WLS) — A group of parishioners out of Waukegan led a prayer vigil at Naval Station Great Lakes on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Gov. JB Pritzker continued to push back on President Donald Trump’s apparent plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.
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On Sunday morning, a small congregation from Waukegan’s United Giving Hope sanctuary took their services on the move, embarking on a 6-mile journey to North Chicago’s Naval Station Great Lakes. This site is expected to host federal agents soon for significant immigration enforcement efforts, possibly starting next week. Young children were among the group undertaking this endeavor.
“These detentions, these operatives, these raids have an impact on human beings,” said United Giving Hope Pastor Julie Contreras.
Although ABC News has reported that these operations could commence as soon as Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refrained from revealing specifics during her appearance on Face the Nation.
“I can’t share the details because there are law enforcement and investigators deployed there, and ensuring their security is our top priority,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
While on the same show, Pritzker spoke about a potential National Guard deployment to accompany federal immigration officials.
“If this happens, they’ll find themselves in court swiftly because it’s unlawful. Posse Comitatus prohibits U.S. troops from being deployed in U.S. cities for crime fighting or law enforcement tasks. That’s not their duty,” said Pritzker.
Meanwhile, at Naval Station Great Lakes, Contreras led her group in prayer, even including those managing the base in her petitions. She acknowledged the difficulty in encouraging many regular attendees to come on Sunday due to prevailing fears.
“This morning, a mother shared that others advised her against coming, warning that she would be seen and targeted. Can we assure her of safety tomorrow? Unfortunately, we cannot,” Contreras explained.
Meanwhile, over in the west suburbs, an immigrant rights group held a protest outside the ICE staging facility in Broadview on Sunday.
The group wants the facility shut down. They say people are being held there for days at a time, and do not have access to beds or showers.
After a protest at the facility last month, an ICE spokesperson told ABC7, “Any accusations that detainees are treated inhumanely in any way are categorically false.”
And while Pritzker said the Trump administration has not communicated their plans to send National Guard troops to Chicago, North Chicago’s mayor told ABC7 on Friday that he has been led to believe that some 300 federal immigration agents will be making the city and the surrounding area their home as the administration’s plans unfold.
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