Chicago is set to deploy the National Guard and strengthen immigration enforcement, according to local leaders.

In the heart of the Midwest, the city of Chicago finds itself at the centre of a national immigration controversy. The Trump administration has announced plans to reinforce immigration enforcement operations in the city, causing concern and anticipation among local residents and politicians.

The city's immigrant and refugee communities have a new ally in the Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR), which has launched an updated website and information hub to highlight services and protections available. Meanwhile, North suburban Evanston's Human Service Committee has passed a resolution calling on Congress to ban federal agents from wearing masks.

Governor JB Pritzker has made it clear that there's nothing that can be done on a city or state level to prevent immigration enforcement, but he has vowed to hold federal agents legally accountable, if necessary. Illinois Congressman Jesús "Chuy" Garciá and Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin are also raising questions about the legality of Trump's use of guardsmen.

The ICE detention center in Broadview is preparing to serve as the primary base for the large-scale federal operation in Chicago. Nearly 30 federal agents have already arrived at the Naval Base in North Chicago, and it is believed that more are on the way. The start date for the operation is not confirmed, but it is believed that federal agents will assemble by Friday and begin enforcement by Saturday.

Not everyone in the city is worried, however. Republican state Representative Martin McLaughlin questions why people are wary of National Guard troops in the city, stating that an American in uniform standing on a street corner trying to protect other Americans is not a threat. Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison has responded to Pritzker's claims, stating that most citizens support the rule of law and want safe communities.

The looming immigration operation is causing disruptions in the city. The Fiestas Patrias Parade and Festival in nearby Waukegan has been postponed, and city organizations are preparing for possible National Guard sweeps of encampments for people experiencing homelessness in Chicago.

Garciá states that the escalation is not about public safety or law and order, but an authoritarian power grab that targets and profiles working class immigrant and Brown communities. Illinois Democratic Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, along with other Illinois lawmakers, is calling out President Trump's planned actions in Chicago, believing that they are about control and targeting diverse, successful Democratic-led cities like Chicago.

As the city braces for potential confrontations, the mayor of Broadview is preparing for possible protests at the ICE detention center in the village. Governor Pritzker has joined a group of community violence interrupters for a training exercise to prepare for potential interactions with ICE or the National Guard. The situation in Chicago remains fluid, and residents and politicians alike are watching closely to see how events unfold.