Military officially demobilizing National Guard troops activated in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago
(UPDATE: Adding Video)
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- After months of court fights and legal limbo over their call-up by President Trump, hundreds of Oregon National Guard members and others called up in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago to protect federal facilities are being demobilized, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed Tuesday.
"All Title 10 troops in Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago are conducting demobilizing activities. They will return to their home units once their demobilization is complete," according to a brief update on NORTHCOM's "Federal Protection Mission" website.
Trump federalized 200 Oregon National Guard troops in late September in response to protests outside an ICE facility in Portland's South Waterfront neighborhood, KGW reported, although he repeatedly described both the mission and the situation on the ground in Portland in far broader and more incendiary terms, such as claiming that life in the city was like "living in hell" and that he was "authorizing Full Force, if necessary" to respond to "Antifa, and other domestic terrorists."
Local and state political leaders protested the move, arguing that Trump was grossly exaggerating the situation on the ground and that the existing federal personnel at the ICE facility were fully capable of keeping it secure. KGW's reporting showed that the protests were largely peaceful and confined to just a few nearby blocks.
Trump announced recently that he was withdrawing the National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, but left the door open to sending federal forces “in a much different and stronger form.” He did so after the US Supreme Court rejected his request to let him deploy the Guard to Chicago to protect ICE agents as part of the administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement Tuesday in response to the official demobilization order, received Monday by the Oregon Military Department. She said demobilization activities require Oregon National Guard members to travel to Fort Bliss, Texas before returning to Oregon.
“The citizen-soldiers of the Oregon National Guard are our neighbors, friends, and family," Kotek said. "These courageous Oregonians deserve certainty and respect. While I am relieved that all our troops will finally return home, it does not make up for the personal sacrifices of more than 100 days, including holidays, spent in limbo.
“During this crisis, Oregonians stood united against the unwanted, unneeded, unconstitutional military intervention in our state, with thousands peacefully voicing their opposition to the Trump Administration’s abuse of power.
“President Trump’s disregard for the facts on the ground revealed that he is more focused on provoking a fight in cities and states that don’t share his politics than serving the American people. I remain committed to defending our values and the rule of law.”
Kotek said a U.S. District Court injunction preventing Guard deployment in Oregon remains in effect and on appeal in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
