Members of the Texas National Guard arrive on Oct. 7, 2025, at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood. (Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune/TNS)
The Texas National Guard sent home some of the 200 troops who were sent with 24 hours’ notice to a federal mission in Illinois after they were found to be out of compliance with certain standards, state military officials said Saturday.
Texas National Guard officials did not provide exactly what standards the group of soldiers did not meet or how many troops were sent home.
“In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission. The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced,” according to the Texas National Guard.
The move followed a photo that quickly circulated online and drew criticism last week of Texas soldiers arriving in Illinois who appeared to be larger than the height and weight standards for the service. It came within days of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pledge of stricter enforcement of those standards.
President Donald Trump called up the Texas soldiers — alongside roughly 300 Illinois National Guard troops — more than a week ago to protect federal personnel and property in Chicago where federal law enforcement are conducting enhanced immigration enforcement raids. The raids have led to protests.
It is similar to the circumstances of a June deployment of the California National Guard to Los Angeles. About 100 troops remain in the city.
Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit to stop the deployment. A federal judge ruled Saturday that troops can remain there under federal control but can’t be deployed for the next two weeks when further arguments can be heard.
Guard members in Illinois are not conducting any operational activities at this time, according to U.S. Northern Command, which is overseeing the federal protection mission. Instead, soldiers are planning and training.
