Protesters At Naval Station Great Lakes As Federal Agents Coming To Lake County

NORTH CHICAGO, IL — Lake County has become a destination in recent days for federal authorities as well as the crowds objecting to their presence ahead of President Donald Trump’s controversial enforcement operation in Chicago.

Trump has spoken openly about his plans for an immigration crackdown and National Guard deployment in Chicago despite the objections of local leaders and a federal court ruling that a similar deployment in Los Angeles was illegal.

As part of the Chicago plans, the Department of Homeland Security requested limited logistical support at the Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee circled the station over the weekend with billboard trucks quoting Gov. JB Pritzker’s objections to the Chicago operation, according to a news release from the organization.

“These billboard trucks are a way for us to constantly remind people that ICE infiltration and National Guard deployments targeting everyday Americans are not normal, that everyone has a responsibility to fight against Trump’s fascist takeover,” spokesperson Sydney Register said in the news release.

Over 100 people were in North Chicago to protest Saturday near the station, according to NBC Chicago, which reported at least 300 federal agents were expected to come to the naval base as part of Trump’s operation. The agents will use offices at the base and stay in Lake County hotels during the roughly monthlong operation, according to the outlet.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.