In a letter to top federal officials, U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin are demanding federal immigration officials stop using the Chicago Harbor Lock after armed agents took to the Chicago River to film videos for social media.
In a letter obtained by the Sun-Times, the senators demanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refrain from using the Chicago Harbor Lock “as a staging area to demonstrate force in pursuit of partisan ends instead of our national interest.”
It comes after two Border Patrol boats were seen passing through the river near Dearborn and State streets before heading toward the Chicago Harbor Lock late last month. One of the boats carried at least seven Border Patrol officers armed with long guns, as well as ICE Commander-at-large Gregory Bovino
The Senators also accused federal immigration officials of not communicating with local officials or other federal agencies — such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the harbor — calling federal immigration agents’ brief trip on the water to capture social media video on the Chicago River “at best reckless and at worst legally questionable” at “one of the busiest locks in the country.”
“Sending armed Federal officers into Chicago Harbor Lock USACE Civil Works water infrastructure facilities to advance armed patrols down the Chicago River — one of the safest locations in the City — lack legitimacy in immigration or border control,” the letter reads. “DHS’s use of this infrastructure strikes confusion and fear in American communities and has the potential to erode the trust of the public in the services USACE provides. ”
The letter demands a justification for the river excursion, as well as explanations on what legal guidelines were followed, who would be responsible for potential legal violations, and other clarifications, in writing by Oct. 20.
The Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn’t immediately respond to a requests for comment.
After troops were initially going to join federal agents at Naval Station Great Lakes, according to emails to base leadership obtained and reported by the Sun-Times in August, another letter sent by Durbin and Duckworth, along with U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., went unanswered by Noem and Hegseth, according to a spokesperson for Duckworth.
It had demanded answers in writing on how the base would be used, an end date to the operation and all communications and documents from their agencies about using the base.
Duckworth and Durbin, along with other Democratic elected officials, celebrated a federal court ruling Thursday temporarily blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to the city.
“The President has no legal basis for deploying federal troops to Illinois against the wishes of the Illinois Governor. There is no rebellion or insurrection happening in our state. Americans have the right under the First Amendment to protest this Administration’s cruel and misguided immigration policies,” Durbin said.