The Review and the village received numerous calls Monday after residents spotted activity at the former Armed Forces Reserve Center building at 7402 Roosevelt Rd.
At the village council meeting Sept. 8, Village Administrator Rachell Entler confirmed that there is no National Guard presence in Forest Park. However, the Illinois National Guard facility is undergoing construction as the group prepares to move into the long-vacant site as soon as early next year.
“We were in contact with members of the Illinois National Guard, and they reassured us that the National Guard was not deployed to Forest Park,” Entler said. “There are things that need to be remodeled and remedied in that building. That is construction that the village of Forest Park was aware was going to be taking place.”
A handful of construction workers interviewed by the Review in the facility’s parking lot on Monday said they were state contractors working on minor projects to improve the parking lot.
The Illinois National Guard will station drilling units at the Forest Park building, which train to deploy to national emergencies or war. Illinois National Guard officials estimate that 400 to 600 people could be stationed at the site.
Concerns about the National Guard’s presence in Forest Park stem from rumors that the Trump Administration may deploy the federal troops to help United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to Entler, Cook County is aware that ICE was deployed across southwest Chicago and suburban Cook County for “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration raids.
“Forest Park is not aware of any ICE deployment here,” Entler said. “However, should our law enforcement officials or myself become aware of that, I’ll be sure to let you know.”