Texas Troops Ordered Home Ahead of Thanksgiving

In an interview with Nexstar, Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas National Guard troops deployed to Illinois in October “have already been ordered to return before Thanksgiving.”

According to KXAN, 200 Texas Guard members were sent to Illinois on Oct. 7 after Abbott authorized 400 troops to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. U.S. Northern Command later said the contingent in Chicago would carry out “demobilization activities.”

Legal experts told Nexstar that the deployment was unusual because such missions typically involve a host-state governor’s invitation; Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had opposed their presence. A federal court subsequently ruled the troops could not be activated in Illinois but could remain there while the case moved forward. Both sides submitted final briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court last week, with a ruling expected soon.