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Trump Halts Guard Deployments in Chicago, LA, Portland After Court Rulings, Keeps New Orleans Troops

Updated (14 articles)

Trump Announces Immediate Pause on Guard Deployments Trump announced on Jan 1 2026 via Truth Social that the National Guard would no longer be deployed to Chicago, Los Angeles, or Portland, citing recent legal roadblocks and a Supreme Court decision; troops in Los Angeles had already withdrawn and the Chicago and Portland units never took to the streets because of injunctions [1][2][3].

Supreme Court Blocks Federal Guard Use in Chicago The Supreme Court’s December ruling in Trump v Illinois barred the president from using federal troops for domestic law‑enforcement tasks in Chicago, including protecting ICE agents, effectively nullifying the administration’s immigration‑crackdown justification [1][2][3][4].

Courts Restore State Control of Guard Units in California and Oregon Ninth Circuit order forced the administration to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom, while Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said her office had not received formal notice to demobilize the remaining federalized troops, confirming that no lawful deployment occurred there [1][2][3].

New Orleans Guard Deployment Remains Active Through Mardi Gras Approximately 350 Guard members deployed to New Orleans’ French Quarter continue to operate through Mardi Gras, a mission that began for New Year’s Eve security and enjoys bipartisan support from the state’s Republican governor and the city’s Democratic mayor [1][2][3].

President Leaves Door Open for Future Insurrection Act Deployment Trump warned that the Guard could return in a “different and stronger form” if crime spikes, reiterating his earlier flirtation with invoking the Insurrection Act as a fallback to bypass judicial obstacles [1][2][3].

Sources

Timeline

1957 – President Eisenhower federalizes the Arkansas National Guard to enforce school integration at Little Rock Central High, establishing a precedent for using the Guard in civil‑rights crises. [4]

1992 – President George H.W. Bush invokes the Insurrection Act to quell the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict, marking the Act’s most recent use before the 2025‑2026 disputes. [4]

Dec 22 2025 – Justice Samuel Alito tells Corriere Della Sera that “the Supreme Court has not yet decided the lawfulness of President Trump’s request to deploy the National Guard to Illinois,” underscoring the pending nature of the case. [11]

Dec 23 2025 – The Supreme Court issues an unsigned order refusing to lift a lower‑court injunction, keeping hundreds of National Guard troops barred from Chicago; Justices Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch dissent, while Governor JB Pritzker hails it as “a big win for Illinois and American democracy.” [2][5][9]

Dec 24 2025 – In an emergency ruling, the Court blocks Trump’s attempt to send the Guard into cities, citing the failure to meet the statutory “regular forces” requirement; Justice Brett Kavanaugh notes the decision “does not address the president’s authority under the Insurrection Act,” while legal scholar John Yoo warns it could force the president to call regular forces such as the 82nd Airborne. [4][7][8][10][13]

Dec 31 2025 – President Trump posts on Truth Social that he is withdrawing National Guard units from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, saying the deployments “greatly reduced crime” and warning the Guard “will return, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again.” Governor Gavin Newsom praises the move as “the end of an illegal intimidation tactic,” and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says it provides “a check on presidential overreach.” [1][6]

Jan 1 2026 – Trump reiterates the withdrawal and leaves the door open for future deployment, noting the Insurrection Act remains an option; a separate Guard deployment begins in New Orleans for New Year’s Eve security and is slated to stay through Mardi Gras, while the Ninth Circuit restores control of the California Guard to Gov. Newsom. [3][12][14]

Feb 2026 (Mardi Gras) – Approximately 350 National Guard troops continue operating in New Orleans’ French Quarter through Mardi Gras, supporting local police under the bipartisan backing of the state’s Republican governor and the city’s Democratic mayor. [12][14]

Future (as indicated by Trump) – Trump signals that if crime spikes, he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy “regular forces” in a “much different and stronger form,” echoing earlier campaign rhetoric about bypassing courts. [3][6][8]

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