Hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, are being sent home, and those who will remain will continue to stay off the streets amid court battles over their domestic mission by the Trump administration, a defence official said Monday (November 17, 2025).

The withdrawal of soldiers — sent from California and Texas — is part of a larger change to troop deployments after President Donald Trump began his immigration crackdown in various cities with Democratic leadership. The official was not authorised to publicly discuss the issue and requested anonymity.

U.S. Northern Command said in a statement Sunday (November 16, 2025) it was “shifting and/or rightsizing” units in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago, although it said there would be a “constant, enduring, and long-term presence in each city.”

In the coming days, 200 California National Guard troops currently deployed to Oregon will be sent home, and about 100 will remain in the Portland area doing training, the official said. The military also plans to cut the number of Oregon National Guard troops on deployment there from 200 soldiers to 100, the official said.

About 200 Texas National Guard troops in Chicago also are being sent home and about 200 soldiers will be on standby at Fort Bliss, an Army base that stretches across parts of Texas and New Mexico, the official said.

About 300 Illinois National Guard troops will remain in the Chicago area, also doing training, but they currently are not legally allowed to conduct operations with the Department of Homeland Security, the official said.

The official said the upcoming holiday season may have played a role in the change in deployments.

Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, said Mr. Trump “never should have illegally deployed our troops in the first place.”

“We’re glad they’re finally coming home,” she wrote in an email. “It’s long overdue!”

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s office did not return calls for comment. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said the Trump administration doesn’t communicate its plans with state leaders and was still threatening to federalise more troops.

“This confirms what we have always known: This is about normalizing military forces in American cities,” Mr. Pritzker’s spokesman Matt Hill said in a statement Saturday (November 15, 2025).

Mr. Hill didn’t immediately return a message left Monday (November 17, 2025).

Democratic cities targeted by Mr. Trump for military involvement — including Chicago, which filed a separate lawsuit on the issue currently before the U.S. Supreme Court — have been pushing back. They argue the President has not satisfied the legal threshold for deploying troops and that doing so would violate states’ sovereignty.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut in Portland this month issued a permanent injunction blocking Mr. Trump from deploying troops in the city, saying he had failed to establish that he was legally entitled to do so. On Sunday (November 16, 2025), the administration filed an emergency motion seeking to put the ruling on hold while it appeals.

Separately, the Trump administration has stepped up immigration enforcement in Charlotte, North Carolina, expanding an aggressive campaign that’s been spearheaded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

National Guard deployments have been one of the most controversial initiatives of Mr. Trump’s second term, demonstrating an expanded willingness to use the military to accomplish domestic goals.

Troops, including active-duty Marines, were deployed to Los Angeles during immigration protests earlier this year.

The National Guard was also sent to Washington, D.C., where they were part of a broader federal intervention that Mr. Trump claimed was necessary because of crime problems.

The deployments later expanded to Portland and Chicago.

Although they don’t play a law enforcement role, members of the National Guard have been tasked with protecting federal facilities, particularly those run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

About 100 troops who have been in Los Angeles will remain on deployment, the defence official said.

Published – November 18, 2025 03:56 am IST

Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli

An ultra luxurious new cocktail in Chicago, Illinois, comes with a several thousand dollar price tag attached. According to Fox News Digital, Adalina, an Italian restaurant in the Windy City, has unveiled the “Marrow Martini, which contains more than just a drink; it’s a piece of stunning diamond jewellery.

Led by Top Chef alum Soo Ahn, Adalina partnered with the jewellery brand Marrow Fine, headquartered just underneath the restaurant, to develop a truly unique experience. The martini will be served with a 9-carat diamond tennis necklace featuring 150 diamonds set in 14K gold.

With that, “it’s likely the most expensive Martini in the United States,” says Colin Hofer, a manager at Adalina, in an email toFox News Digital.It pumps up the luxury within the cocktail scene in the United States.

“Instead of traditional spirits like gin or vodka, I chose Mezcal because I believe it has untapped potential as a luxury spirit. Mezcal, much like heirloom jewellery, is often overlooked despite its richness. The particular Mezcal we use is a rare, sought-after brand made from Green Agave, native to the deserts of San Luis Potosi, Mexico,” Hofer said.

Jillian Sassone, founder of Marrow Fine, told Fox News Digital via email she suspects the drink will make for memorable evenings.

“Adalina was a natural choice to partner with, not only because of its proximity but also because of their world-class menu from Top Chef Soo Ahn. Each time I have visited Adalina, I’m blown away by every dish but also by the palpable energy and excitement in the restaurant,” she said.

“While it’s not something we expect to see sold frequently, it has sparked a lot of interest among our clientele. It’s more about creating an iconic experience for a select few rather than broad popularity,” Hofer said.

Chicago:

At least four people were shot dead on a train in the US city of Chicago on Monday, police said, with a suspect apprehended soon after the mass shooting occurred.

Police said they responded to a 911 emergency hotline call early on Monday morning, arriving at the Forest Park train station where they found the four victims.

“Three were pronounced dead on scene, the fourth was transported to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where they were later pronounced,” a police statement said.

Gun violence is common in the United States, a country where there are more firearms than people. Attempts to clamp down on gun rights are always met with stiff political resistance.

Chicago police put out a description of the suspected offender based on surveillence footage, and a suspect was later taken into custody with a firearm also recovered, the statement said.

“This appears to be an isolated incident with no immediate threat to the community,” the statement said.

Chicago operates one of the largest public transportation networks in the United States, with more than 317,000 people using its train system on an average weekday, according to the Chicago Transit Authority.

“It’s a horrible situation. It’s definitely something that you don’t want to wake up to. It’s a Monday morning on a holiday,” police official Christopher Chin told reporters, referring to the Labor Day holiday being observed in the United States.

This year, there have been at least 378 mass shootings — defined as a shooting involving at least four victims — across the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

At least 11,463 people have been killed in firearms violence, according to the GVA.

In June, the US surgeon general issued a landmark advisory declaring gun violence a “public health crisis” and calling for wide-ranging firearm controls that have historically been quashed by political opposition.

Firearms in recent years have become the leading cause of deaths for Americans aged between one and 19, above motor vehicles, the report said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, Indian student in Chicago, has been reported missing in since May 2. Photo: X/@amjedmbt

An Indian student has been reported missing in Chicago since May 2. The Consulate General of India in Chicago said it was in touch with the police and Indian diaspora to locate/reestablish contact with Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi. In a post on X, the Consulate General of India in Chicago stated, “The Consulate is deeply concerned learning that Indian student Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi is incommunicado since 2nd May. Consulate is in touch with the police and the Indian diaspora hoping to locate/reestablish contact with Rupesh.”

The Chicago police, in a statement, have urged people to provide information to the police if they locate Mr. Rupesh Chintakindi. According to the statement, he was missing from the 4300 block of N Sheridan Road. Earlier in April, an Indian student who has been missing since March this year was found dead in the U.S. state of Ohio, the Consulate General of India in New York said.

The Consulate General of India in New York said it is “anguished” to learn about the death of Mohammed Abdul Arfath and is in touch with local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into his death”. Anguished to learn that Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Our deepest condolences to Mr. Mohammed Arfath’s family”, the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X. Arafat, a native of Hyderabad, went to the U.S. for his Master’s degree in IT from Cleveland University in May 2023 but had been missing since March 7 this year. His father, Mohd. Saleem, said that after ten days, they received a phone call from an unidentified person who claimed Mr. Arafat had been kidnapped and demanded a $1,200 ransom for his release.

Recently, the Indian community has seen a rise in such tragedies. In April, Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio, died and a police investigation is underway.

Earlier this February, an Indian student faced a brutal attack in Chicago. Following the attack, the Indian Consulate in Chicago stated that it was in touch with the victim, Syed Mazahir Ali, as well as his wife in India.