September 30, 2025 – In a bold escalation of his administration’s crackdown on urban unrest, President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, to safeguard federal immigration facilities from what he describes as attacks by “domestic terrorists.” The move, announced via a fiery social media post on Saturday, September 27, has ignited swift backlash from state and local Democratic leaders, who filed a federal lawsuit Sunday challenging the order as an unlawful overreach.
Trump’s directive, issued under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, empowers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to federalize the Guard for a 60-day period, focusing on protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) buildings where protests have sporadically erupted. In his Truth Social message, the president lambasted Portland as “war-ravaged” and besieged by Antifa and other agitators, authorizing troops to employ “full force, if necessary.” This phrasing has raised alarms about the potential for escalated violence, with legal experts questioning whether it skirts longstanding prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement, such as the Posse Comitatus Act.
The deployment marks the latest in a series of federal interventions in Democratic-led cities. Earlier this year, Trump sent 2,000 personnel, including National Guard and Marines, to Los Angeles to quell demonstrations against immigration raids. Similar plans are underway for Memphis, Tennessee, with federal agents slated to arrive next week. Supporters, including Oregon Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, hailed the action as a necessary response to a “crime-ridden warzone,” crediting it with bolstering security for ICE operations.
Beautiful hike in Portland. Well, maybe it used to be. I wonder how many needles are buried under all this homeless trash? pic.twitter.com/4Yxwvi1mB9
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
(@ANTHONYBLOGAN) September 30, 2025
Disgusting Portland underpass pic.twitter.com/iX5DBupsOv
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
Portland, Ore. — A resident living near the ICE facility praises President Trump for deploying the military/federal agents to quash Antifa:
“I am so happy that President Trump is deploying the National Guard. We have been asking for help for months.” pic.twitter.com/q2OKlBZuSx
— Katie Daviscourt
(@KatieDaviscourt) September 28, 2025
Oregon officials, however, paint a starkly different picture. Governor Tina Kotek, who learned of the order through Trump’s online post, described Portland as “doing just fine” and accused the president of manufacturing chaos to punish politically opposed jurisdictions. In a weekend press conference, Kotek emphasized that local law enforcement has the situation under control, warning that federal troops could “incite a public outcry” and erode community trust. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson echoed this sentiment, stating bluntly, “The number of necessary troops is zero,” and suggesting the deployment might provoke the very disorder it aims to prevent.
The state’s lawsuit, filed by Democratic Attorney General Dan Rayfield in U.S. District Court in Portland, targets Trump, Hegseth, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. It argues the deployment is “arbitrary and provocative,” lacking evidence of imminent threats and potentially transforming the military into a “national police force.” As of Monday, no timeline for troop arrival has been confirmed, though the Guard’s mobilization is effective immediately.
Protests outside the Portland ICE facility intensified over the weekend, with demonstrators decrying the move as authoritarian overreach. One organizer told reporters, “This isn’t protection—it’s provocation.” Meanwhile, Trump allies frame it as a fulfillment of his “Make America Great Again” mandate to restore order.
As legal battles unfold, Portland braces for an uncertain future. The deployment not only tests the boundaries of federal power but also underscores deepening national divides over immigration, protest rights, and the role of the military at home. Whether it quells unrest or fans the flames remains to be seen.
SOURCES:
Pentagon calls up 200 National Guard troops after Trump Portland announcement | Reuters
Oregon sues Trump administration over plans to deploy troops
Latest updates: Trump invokes Title 10 to deploy troops into Portland; AG files lawsuit
Trump orders deployment of troops to Portland, ICE facilities | Reuters
Trump to send troops to Portland and Memphis. Here are 3 things to know : NPR
Trump says he’ll send troops to Portland, Oregon | AP News
Trump administration authorizes 200 National Guard members for Portland deployment – OPB
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