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Category: News
February 13, 2026
Crime
News

WATCH: Extremist Sets Fire to Building Considered for Conversion to ICE Detention Center.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A woman attempted to set fire to a Kansas City warehouse rumored to be a potential ICE detention center.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The unidentified woman, Platform Ventures, local officials, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred at the 49 Crossing industrial facility in Kansas City, Missouri.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Platform Ventures is not actively engaged with the U.S. Government or any other prospective purchaser involving a sale of its property at the I-49 Industrial Center.” – Platform Ventures statement.

🎯IMPACT: The property will not be sold to DHS, and local leaders continue opposing the use of warehouses as detention centers.

IN FULL

A woman was captured on surveillance video attempting to set fire to a warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri, that had been rumored as a possible immigration detention facility. Footage shared by local outlet KMBC shows the woman, dressed in sandals, jeans, a short-sleeve black shirt, and carrying a small backpack, pouring an accelerant along the side of the building before striking a match. A second container of accelerant is visible near her feet.

The warehouse is located within the 49 Crossing industrial complex and had previously been considered for sale for potential use by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an immigration detention center. However, the property owner, Platform Ventures, announced Thursday that it would not proceed with the sale.

Rumors first surfaced in January that the site could be converted into a federal immigration detention facility. The prospect drew opposition from local activists and leftist officials. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) said at the time, “I will continue with our legislative, legal efforts and community engagement to ensure no warehouse or similar facility in Kansas City or nearby is converted to a mass encampment warehouse of persons that is offensive to the dignity and human rights of those who would be detained within it.”

In a February 12 statement, Platform Ventures said, “Platform Ventures is not actively engaged with the U.S. Government or any other prospective purchaser involving a sale of its property at the I-49 Industrial Center.” The company explained that negotiations had initially been conducted with a private third party but later discovered the buyer was the U.S. Government. It ultimately declined to move forward.

The arson attack comes amid heightened tensions nationwide over immigration enforcement and the expansion of detention facilities. In recent months, leftist activists have clashed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at various sites across the country, including protests that escalated into confrontations outside detention facilities. Federal officials have also confirmed investigations into organized anti-ICE activist networks.

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February 13, 2026
Immigration
News

ICE Surge in Minnesota Recovered 3,000 Missing Children.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) highlighted the success of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, which led to the arrest of 4,000 illegal immigrant criminals and the recovery of 3,000 missing migrant children.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tom Emmer, President Donald J. Trump, federal law enforcement agencies, Minnesota officials, and residents of Minneapolis.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The operation took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and its results were discussed on Thursday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Do you realize that Operation Metro Surge picked up 4,000 illegal alien criminals? Rapists, murderers, pedophiles, drug dealers — 4,000! And by the way, I was told… they’ve also located 3,000 missing migrant children.” – Tom Emmer

🎯IMPACT: The operation secured significant results in addressing illegal immigration and missing children cases.

IN FULL

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) praised the outcome of Operation Metro Surge, a federal law enforcement initiative in Minneapolis aimed at combating illegal immigration and violent crime. Emmer said the operation led to thousands of arrests and the recovery of missing migrant children. “Do you realize that Operation Metro Surge picked up 4,000 illegal alien criminals? Rapists, murderers, pedophiles, drug dealers — 4,000! And by the way, I was told that… they’ve also located 3,000 missing migrant children. I mean, that’s just in the Minneapolis area. You gotta be kidding me,” Emmer stated.

The Minnesota initiative was ordered by President Donald J. Trump and involved a surge of federal personnel, including officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (ICE). The administration said the operation was designed to address public safety concerns in jurisdictions with sanctuary-style policies. Officials announced the effort had concluded, describing it as a success.

The operation drew protests and clashes between leftist agitators and law enforcement. Two anti-ICE activists were fatally shot while disrupting immigration enforcement, prompting calls from Democrats for them to leave the state. Emmer blamed state and city Democratic leaders for failing to coordinate with federal authorities. “Had there been cooperation, none of this would have happened,” he remarked.

The comments come amid broader debate over unaccompanied migrant children who have entered the United States in recent years. Reports indicate that during the prior Biden regime, hundreds of thousands of minors were released to sponsors but not consistently tracked, with estimates suggesting nearly 300,000 children may have lacked proper follow-up.

More recent reports have said the Trump administration has located roughly 25,000 previously unaccounted-for migrant children nationwide as part of expanded enforcement and tracking efforts.

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February 13, 2026
Crime

Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty in Church-Storming Case.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ex-CNN host Don Lemon pleaded not guilty in a Minnesota federal court over allegations of participating in an anti-ICE mob that stormed a church service.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Don Lemon, Nekima Levy Armstrong, three additional defendants, and congregants of Cities Church.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged incident occurred last month at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lemon appeared in court on Friday, February 13, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The First Amendment does not protect premeditated schemes to violate the sanctity of a sanctuary, disrupt worship services, or intimidate children.” — Renee Carlson, General Counsel for True North Legal, representing Cities Church

🎯IMPACT: Lemon faces federal charges under the FACE Act and conspiracy to violate religious freedoms.

IN FULL

Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon entered a not guilty plea in a Minnesota federal court on Friday following his arrest for alleged involvement with an anti-ICE mob that stormed Cities Church in St. Paul last month. Lemon livestreamed the church storming, showing himself accompanying a group of agitators who interrupted a Sunday service, menacing and harassing congregants.

In his livestream, Lemon referred to the operation as “secret” and stated, “[I] can’t tell you what is going to happen, but you’re going to watch it live unfold here on the Don Lemon Show.” At one point, Lemon turned off his camera, claiming the group was sharing “critical information.” He also thanked the church storming’s organizer, radical black activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who is facing similar charges, during the broadcast.

Federal authorities arrested Lemon in Los Angeles late last month, charging him with conspiracy to violate religious freedoms and violations of the FACE Act, which prohibits the disruption of religious services. Lemon has maintained that his actions were protected under the First Amendment, asserting he was there as an independent journalist. “We’re here just chronicling and reporting. We’re not part of the activist, but we’re here just reporting on them,” he said in his livestream.

Renee Carlson, General Counsel for True North Legal, representing Cities Church, pushed back on Lemon’s defense. “By pleading not guilty, Don Lemon and other defendants are doubling down on their claim that the press can do whatever they want under the auspices of journalism, while also defending the invasion of a church. This was a coordinated, planned operation,” Carlson stated, adding, “The First Amendment does not protect premeditated schemes to violate the sanctity of a sanctuary, disrupt worship services, or intimidate children.”

During the hearing, Lemon’s legal team requested the return of his phone, which remains in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under a sealed search warrant. Lemon, in his livestream, acknowledged the discomfort caused to worshippers, saying, “You have to make people uncomfortable in these times. If you see how uncomfortable … and how harsh people are being treated on the streets, you have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That is what this country is about.”

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February 13, 2026
Immigration

ICE Plans $38 BILLION Mega Detention Center Expansion.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to spend $38 billion on a new detention center model, holding nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE, President Donald J. Trump, Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), and New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The plans were revealed on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These facilities will ensure the safe and humane civil detention of aliens in ICE custody, while helping ICE effectuate mass deportations.” – ICE Memo

🎯IMPACT: The new facilities are intended to hold nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants, but have faced activist pushback.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to spend $38 billion this year on a new detention center strategy, aiming to hold nearly 100,000 illegal immigrants. The expansion plan, in which the agency intends to purchase warehouse spaces at an estimated cost of $38.3 billion from a budget of $45 billion, is aimed at playing a significant part in the deportation efforts promised by President Donald J. Trump ahead of the 2026 congressional midterm elections.

A newly released ICE memo reveals plans to acquire “non-traditional facilities” that can be utilized for ICE’s needs. The funds for the detention facility expansion are being drawn from ICE appropriations enacted through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed last year. “These facilities will ensure the safe and humane civil detention of aliens in ICE custody, while helping ICE effectuate mass deportations,” the memo states.

According to the document, ICE intends to purchase and retrofit eight “mega centers,” 16 processing centers, and 10 additional facilities already used by ICE’s enforcement division. Notably, the ICE memo became public on Thursday after it was circulated to the office of New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte (R), as the agency explores acquiring several facilities in the state.

Just hours earlier, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed ICE’s Acting Director Todd Lyons on the expansion during a hearing on Capitol Hill. “We expect that you will be sitting not just with the governor, but with local officials, so that they can understand what the impact will be on their community,” Hassan said. Notably, ICE has already received some GOP pushback, with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) opposing the agency’s purchase of a warehouse in his state.

The ICE memo states that the new buildings will have a capacity for 92,600 illegal immigrants. Processing centers will accommodate 1,000 to 1,500 illegals for 3-7 days, while larger facilities will hold 7,000 to 10,000 illegals for about 60 days on average, serving as primary sites for deportations. In New Hampshire, an economic impact analysis estimates $300 million will be spent on retrofitting and operating a facility in Merrimack over three years, supporting 1,252 new jobs.

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February 13, 2026
News
UK

Epstein-Linked Former British Ambassador Summoned by Congress.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former British ambassador to the U.S. Lord Peter Mandelson has been asked to testify before the U.S. Congress regarding the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Peter Mandelson and the House Oversight Committee.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The letter was sent on February 13, 2026, with a response deadline by February 27.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Numerous pieces of evidence have come to light demonstrating your close ties to Jeffrey Epstein over the span of multiple years.” – Lawmakers’ letter to Mandelson

🎯IMPACT: The investigation seeks to uncover Epstein’s co-conspirators and the extent of his operations, with Mandelson’s involvement under scrutiny.

IN FULL

Former British ambassador to the U.S. Lord Peter Mandelson has received a summons to appear before the U.S. Congress amid the continuing probe into deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. House lawmakers issued the request after the most recent Epstein-related documents were made public, suggesting that Mandelson—Epstein’s “best pal”—had been leaking confidential information to the sex trafficker when he was a British government minister under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The House Oversight Committee stressed the need to identify Epstein’s accomplices and grasp the complete extent of his illegal activities. In the correspondence to Mandelson, it pointed out the Briton’s “extensive social and business ties” to Epstein, indicating that he possesses vital details for the inquiry.

Mandelson has a deadline of February 27 to reply to the summons, although as a non-U.S. citizen he is not required by law to give testimony. Separately, London’s Metropolitan Police recently conducted searches at Mandelson’s residences in Camden, North London, and Wiltshire, amid suspicions that his alleged sharing of sensitive details with Epstein during his tenure as Business Secretary was criminal.

Mandelson, appointed to the ambassadorship by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer despite his known friendship with Epstein and forced to resign when U.S. disclosures about the pedophile revealed more details of their relationship, has repeatedly rejected any accusations of misconduct. However, he has announced he will resign from the House of Lords and from Starmer’s Labour Party amid the scandal.

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, warned against Mandelson prior to his appointment as ambassador, noting his Epstein links and his past comments describing President Donald J. Trump as “little short of a white nationalist and a racist.” He said the appointment was an insult to Americans and recommended that President Trump reject his diplomatic credentials.

Image by Ted Eytan.

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February 13, 2026
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
World

Right-Wing Activist Dead After Beating by Antifa Terrorists: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A right-wing activist has died after being severely beaten in the street by Antifa terrorists.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Antifa, the 23-year-old victim, identified as “Quentin,” the La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party, and a female-led anti-mass migration activist group Collectif Némésis.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The beating occurred on the evening of February 12, with Quentin’s death announced the following day.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Judicial impunity and media complacency towards the radical left have led to this tragedy.” – Marion Marechal MEP.

🎯IMPACT: The death is just the latest act of extreme violence from Antifa terrorists in Europe.

IN FULL

A 23-year-old Frenchman has reportedly died after being severely beaten by Antifa terrorists during a violent confrontation in Lyon on the evening of February 12, according to local reports and messages shared on social media. The incident took place near Sciences Po Lyon in the city’s 7th district, where a conference was being held by Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing the ultra-left-wing party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed).

Members of the female-led anti-mass migration activist group Collectif Némésis had gathered outside the venue to protest Hassan’s appearance. Tensions reportedly escalated between them and counter-protesters described as far-left militants. The situation devolved into a street brawl.

Emergency services were called to the scene as multiple people were injured during the clashes. According to initial accounts, a young woman associated with Collectif Némésis was pushed to the ground and assaulted.

During the confrontation, a young man identified locally as “Quentin” was reportedly acting as security for Collectif Némésis. He suffered serious head trauma after being beaten and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Doctors placed him in an induced coma due to a severe brain injury.

Marion Marechal MEP, the niece of French populist leader Marine Le Pen, commented on the incident, saying, “Judicial impunity and media complacency towards the radical left have led to this tragedy. [La France Insoumise] also has blood on its hands when we know its links with these violent groups and its permanent calls for chaos and hatred.”

On February 13, messages circulating on X (formerly Twitter) stated that the young man had died from his injuries. As of the latest official updates, authorities had not issued a detailed public statement confirming the circumstances of his death.

Lyon’s mayor described the event as an “extremely violent brawl” and called for calm while an investigation is underway. Law enforcement officials have opened an inquiry into the incident, including potential charges related to aggravated assault and public disorder. No arrests had been publicly announced so far.

The incident comes just months after President Donald J. Trump declared several European Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organisations. This came after he designated Antifa in the United States a terrorist group as well.

European Antifa groups are known to be highly violent, with one member of the Antifa “Hammer Gang” being sentenced earlier this month for taking part in random, severe beatings of suspected conservatives in Budapest, Hungary, in 2023. The transgender Antifa militant was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison for participating in the beatings, which involved the use of hammers to severely injure multiple people based on whether they appeared to be right-wing.

In a separate case, Antifa terrorists sabotaged critical energy infrastructure in Germany, leaving 45,000 people without power in the middle of winter. The terrorists claimed to be concerned with the climate.

Image by Oompje.

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February 13, 2026
William Upton
Immigration

Hundreds of Migrants Deported to Third Countries: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Senate Foreign Relations Committee report revealed that the Trump administration has deported hundreds of migrants who could not be sent directly to their homelands to third countries.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the State Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and foreign governments, including Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and El Salvador.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation covers deportation practices during the second Trump administration, with payments made to countries in Africa, Central America, and other regions.

🎯IMPACT: While Senate Democrats have played up the costs totals, it is fairly comparable to the cost of illegal immigrants in the Untied Staes for American taxpayers.

IN FULL

A newly released report from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reveals that the Trump administration spent over $32 million on deporting illegal immigrants to third countries, with some costs exceeding $1 million per migrant. The report highlights payments made to foreign governments, including Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and El Salvador, as part of third-country deportation agreements.

In one case, Rwanda received $7.5 million plus $601,864 in flight costs to accept seven migrants, equating to over $1.1 million per person. Similarly, Equatorial Guinea was paid $7.5 million to accept 29 migrants, costing taxpayers $282,126 per person. Additional payments were made to Palau, Eswatini (Swaziland), and El Salvador.

Despite the apparently high costs, the third-country deportations demonstrate to migrants who frustrate efforts to send them home that they can still be removed from the U.S., to a country not of their choosing. Notably, the investigation found that over 80 percent of illegal immigrants sent to third countries eventually returned to their home nations, suggesting that those claiming they would be in danger in their home nations were being dishonest.

While Congressional Democrats, who largely prepared the report, intended for the data to give the perception of government waste by utilizing third country deportations—or really deportations at all—the cost is comparable to the estimated cost of the illegal immigrants remaining in the United States. Research presented to Congress in 2024 by Steven A. Camarota, the Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), found that the U.S. illegal immigrant population receives around $42 billion in welfare benefits.

Additionally, CIS found that, “Based on average costs per student, the estimated 4 million children of illegal immigrants in public schools created $68.1 billion in costs in 2019.” Meanwhile, illegal immigrants account for about $7 billion in emergency services costs annually.

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February 13, 2026
Immigration
News

Walz to Give $10 MILLION to Businesses That Profited From Illegal Labor, Customers Following ICE Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) announced a $10 million relief fund for businesses supposedly impacted by federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, following ICE operations that detained over 4,000 illegal migrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Tim Walz, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, immigrant business owners, and ICE officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Minneapolis, Minnesota, with recent federal immigration enforcement actions reported in late 2023 and early 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They left us with economic ruin.” – Tim Walz

🎯IMPACT: The policy highlights the overreliance of some businesses on exploiting cheap migrant labor, and the Democrats’ support for such employers.

IN FULL

Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a $10 million state relief package for Minnesota businesses that, he claims, have been hurt by recent federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The funding, drawn from state taxpayer dollars, is intended to support companies reporting labor shortages and declining customer traffic following stepped-up activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies.

The announcement follows remarks by White House Border Czar Tom Homan, who said ICE operations in the city led to the arrest of more than 4,000 illegal migrants. Walz sharply criticized the federal government’s approach, saying, “They left us with economic ruin.”

The governor said the relief effort will prioritize small businesses, particularly those owned by immigrants. “What can we start doing on the economic recovery, the damage that has been done to our economy, specifically to small business owners, and even more specifically, to immigrant small business owners?” Walz said.

State economic development manager Matt Varilek described the economic impact as significant, citing “massive reductions in foot traffic” and revenue declines in several neighborhoods.

Walz’s announcement comes amid broader political scrutiny. Recent reports have highlighted his support for increasing Somali immigration to Minnesota as the state faces ongoing investigations into alleged fraud connected to the Somali community. Notably, the Trump administration recently halted loans to approximately 7,000 Minnesota borrowers over fraud concerns.

Walz announced he would not seek reelection amid controversy tied to the Somali fraud scandal.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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February 12, 2026
Immigration
News

Illegal Immigrant Rams Law Enforcement, ICE Shoots Out His Tires.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Honduran illegal alien rammed a law enforcement vehicle during an arrest attempt, prompting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent to shoot out the suspect’s tires.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE agents, suspect and illegal immigrant Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas, and local New Jersey law enforcement.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2026, in Roxbury Township, Morris County, New Jersey.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In an attempt to evade arrest, Lopez-Banegas rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over.” – Department of Homeland Security spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the increasing violence ICE agents face, with DHS reporting a 3,200 percent rise in vehicle attacks on officers.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that a Honduran national unlawfully present in the United States, Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas, rammed a law enforcement vehicle while agents attempted to arrest him on Tuesday in Roxbury Township, New Jersey. An ICE officer fired his weapon during the encounter, shooting out the suspect’s tires to stop the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Video from the scene shows a roadside confrontation in which Lopez-Banegas’ pickup truck collided with a law enforcement vehicle. An agent is seen drawing his firearm as the vehicles made contact. The suspect later exited the truck with his hands raised after being ordered to comply.

“In an attempt to evade arrest, Lopez-Banegas rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman said, adding, “Following his training, the officer defensively used his firearm and shot out the tires of the vehicle to stop the threat. Thankfully, no one was injured. Officers arrested Banegas and took him into ICE custody.”

Federal officials said Lopez-Banegas has prior charges, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and driving under the influence. DHS also stated that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him in 2021.

Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport confirmed that her office is reviewing the incident. “We are actively investigating an incident involving ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) in which a firearm was discharged in Roxbury Township earlier today. There are no known injuries,” she said.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability are assisting in the investigation. DHS officials said assaults against immigration officers have increased in recent years, including a reported rise in vehicle-related attacks during arrest operations.

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February 12, 2026
Crime
News

National Guard Withdraws from Several Dem-Run Crime Hubs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: National Guard troops have left Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, ending their deployments in the Democrat-run cities.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, National Guard troops, U.S. military officials, and Democratic city leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Early 2026; Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland.

🎯IMPACT: The deployments tested presidential authority and highlighted tensions between federal and state powers over crime and immigration.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has ended the federal deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, according to U.S. military officials, ending months of contentious operations in several Democrat-led cities. The drawdown followed a Pentagon plan initiated late last year, with demobilization taking place throughout January under the direction of U.S. Northern Command. The withdrawal closes a chapter marked by legal disputes and political clashes over President Donald J. Trump’s authority to federalize state National Guard units without a governor’s consent.

In Chicago and Portland, court challenges disrupted troops’ efforts to carry out street-level operations. The Supreme Court blocked the deployment in Chicago, while litigation in Oregon delayed or restricted Guard activity in Portland. An appeals court had earlier ruled that President Donald J. Trump could send National Guard forces into Portland under federal authority, but ongoing court proceedings complicated implementation. In Los Angeles, a federal court halted Trump’s order to deploy the Guard, limiting the overall troop presence there despite the administration’s efforts.

President Trump ordered the federalization of National Guard units in response to protests tied to immigration enforcement actions. The move represented a break from modern precedent, as federalization traditionally occurs at a governor’s request. Critics argued the deployments infringed on state authority, while supporters said the action was necessary to restore order and support local law enforcement.

Although operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland have ended, National Guard forces remain active in other areas. In Washington, D.C., where the President has direct authority over the Guard, troops continue to assist with public safety efforts. During the deployment, the D.C. public transit system reported its lowest crime rate in 25 years, a development officials linked in part to the Guard’s presence.

National Guard missions are also ongoing in cities such as New Orleans and Memphis, where Republican governors supported federal involvement.

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