NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — The 200 federalized Texas National Guardsmen sent to the Chicago area have now left and will return to their home state, two U.S. officials told ABC News.
The federalized Guardsmen 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.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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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 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 200 Illinois National Guardsmen who had also been federalized by President Trump to operate in the Chicago will remain on active duty, an official said.
U.S. Northern Command posted the following statement online:
“NORTHCOM, under the direction from the Department of War, is constantly refining and improving our plans and capabilities to defend the Homeland. Our work to protect federal functions, personnel, and property remains a top priority – each and every day. We are prepared to commit as many troops as needed, for as long as needed, to support our law enforcement partners in cities across the country.
“To that end, 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. Our troops in each city (and others) are trained and ready, and will be employed whenever needed to support law enforcement and keep our citizens safe.”
ABC7 Chicago contributed to this report.
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