Texas National Guard members leave Chicago area, officials say

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. -- The 200 federalized California National Guard members sent to Portland, Oregon, and another 200 federalized Texas National Guard members sent to Chicago will return to their home states, according to two U.S. officials.

The federalized Guard troops arrived to the Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago in early October, but they never deployed operationally because of legal challenges that continue playing out in court.

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Late Friday night, U.S. Northern Command hinted that changes were coming to the federalized troop mission in those cities but provided no details when it it posted on X that "in the coming days, the Department will be shifting and/or rightsizing our Title 10 footprint in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago to ensure a constant, enduring, and long-term presence in each city."

An official with the City of North Chicago shared a statement with ABC7 Chicago Saturday, saying "The city received notification yesterday at about 3:30 p.m. that DHS finished packing up their operations and vacated the Naval Station. We are not aware of any DHS activity post that notification that would lead us to believe anything to the contrary."

The Texas and California Guard members had been activated on federal orders by President Donald Trump in early October and placed on an active duty Title 10 status.

While they deployed to the two cities, the troops never carried out operations because of several legal rulings that placed a hold on their deployment.

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These troops will now return to their home states of Texas and California, according to the two U.S. officials.

California will maintain a ready force of 100 Guard members and Texas will maintain a force of 200 members who have all volunteered for the mission, according to one of the officials.

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The 200 members of the Illinois National Guard who had also been federalized by President Donald Trump to operate in Chicago will remain on active duty, said the official.

But there will be a change among the 200 federalized Oregon National Guard troops as their numbers will be reduced to 100 remaining on active duty, the official added.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's office shared the following statement with ABC7 Chicago Saturday evening:
"While there are reports the Texas guard is leaving, the Trump Administration is also saying they will keep federalizing national guards to "ensure a constant, enduring, and long-term presence" in cities. This confirms what we have always known: this is about normalizing military forces in American cities.

"Illinois will continue fighting for our state sovereignty, protecting people's rights, and keeping our communities peaceful.

"And, as we have said since the beginning...

"No, the Trump Administration does not provide the Governor's office updates on military movements within our state. There has never been a serious willingness from the federal government to coordinate or cooperate with the state."

ABC7 Chicago contributed to this report.