Guard Troops Fully Withdraw From Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles

Deployments that pitted Democratic cities against the Trump administration have ended.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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All National Guard troops that the Trump administration tapped to support aggressive immigration operations have left Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, according to U.S. military officials. The demobilizations signal the formal end to monthslong deployments that tested the limits of presidential authority over the state-based military forces.

Why it matters

The Guard troop deployments in these Democratic-led cities were a point of contention between the Trump administration and local governments, with the president sending in federal forces over the wishes of state governors. The withdrawals mark the end of this clash between federal and local control.

The details

In Portland and Chicago, the Guard troops, who had been sent to support federal law enforcement and protect buildings, never actually operated on the streets. The move in Portland was tied up in court, and the one in Chicago was blocked by the Supreme Court. Troops in Los Angeles were allowed on the streets despite a pending court case, but the Pentagon significantly reduced their numbers toward the end of the year.

  • The Guard troops were deployed in late 2025 in response to protests against immigration enforcement in major cities.
  • The troops fully withdrew from Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles in February 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who ordered the National Guard deployments to Democratic-led cities to support federal immigration enforcement efforts.

U.S. Northern Command

The U.S. military command that oversaw the withdrawal of National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland.

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What’s next

The deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. is expected to continue through the end of 2026.

The takeaway

The withdrawal of National Guard troops from Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles marks the end of a contentious clash between the Trump administration and Democratic-led cities over the use of federal forces to support immigration enforcement. This episode highlighted the limits of presidential authority over state-based military forces.