Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Nov 17: Hundreds of National Guard troops sent to Chicago and Portland are beginning to withdraw, US media reported Sunday, following legal challenges to their deployment ordered by President Donald Trump. In early October, Trump directed forces from Texas and California to the two Democrat-run cities as part of his crackdown on illegal migration, a move criticised by local leaders as authoritarian overreach.

Anonymous officials cited by the New York Times said the 200 out-of-state troops sent to each city, who were never deployed due to ongoing court battles, began pulling out Sunday. Meanwhile, about 300 Illinois National Guard troops will remain in Chicago, and 100 from Oregon will stay in Portland.

US Northern Command, responsible for domestic military operations, stated on X that it “will be shifting and/or rightsizing” its National Guard presence in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago without providing further details.

Trump’s domestic use of the National Guard has been unprecedented, as these mostly part-time soldiers are usually under the governor’s control and are traditionally mobilised for emergencies like natural disasters.

Portland and Chicago became key flashpoints in the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, following previous deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, and Memphis. A federal judge recently ruled the Portland deployment “unlawful,” issuing a permanent block, while lower and appeals courts in October also blocked the use of National Guard troops in Chicago. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case.