Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, are being sent home, and those who will remain will continue to stay off the streets amid legal battles over their domestic mission by the Trump administration, a defense official said Monday.
The withdrawal of soldiers — primarily from California and Texas — is part of a larger shift in troop deployments initiated after President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in cities led by Democratic officials. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that U.S. Northern Command is shifting and/or rightsizing these units in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago, asserting there would still be a long-term military presence in these locations.
In the upcoming days, 200 California National Guard troops currently in Oregon will be sent home, while around 100 will remain for training purposes. The Oregon National Guard contingent is also being reduced from 200 to 100 troops. At the same time, approximately 200 Texas National Guard troops stationed in Chicago are being withdrawn, although another 200 will remain on standby at Fort Bliss.
About 300 Illinois National Guard members will continue training in the Chicago area but will not conduct operations in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security due to legal restrictions imposed on their actions. The timing of the troop withdrawal coincides with the upcoming holiday season.
Diana Crofts-Pelayo, spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, remarked that the illegal deployment of troops should never have occurred, emphasizing the welcome return of the National Guard to their home state.
Cities like Chicago and Portland have actively resisted Trump's military involvement, arguing that the legal basis for such deployments has not been met, countering states' rights and autonomy. Portland's federal court recently issued an injunction against troop use there, highlighting the ongoing judicial scrutiny of these deployments.
The Biden administration continues to face fallout from these controversial military actions, which have marked Trump's approach towards managing domestic challenges with a militaristic strategy. Despite the ongoing appeals and military adjustments, the National Guard's role remains pivotal in the evolving framework of U.S. domestic policy and enforcement.
