Donald Trump has ordered troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising the use of full force if necessary to control protests at immigration detention centres.
The president said the deployment would protect federal facilities from Antifa attacks and other domestic threats. He described the city as war-ravaged in a Truth Social post.
The move expands federal troop presence in US cities as part of his broader immigration crackdown.
democratic leaders criticise move
Democratic officials condemned the deployment, saying Portland faces no threat requiring federal intervention.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called communities safe and calm. She warned that sending troops would constitute an abuse of power.
At a Saturday news conference, Kotek said she was working with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to review legal options. She promised the state would act if necessary.
unanswered questions in trump’s order
Trump did not specify whether he would send National Guard units or regular military personnel. He also left unclear what full force entails.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military is ready to support the Department of Homeland Security in Portland. He promised further updates as details emerge.
protests lead to arrests and charges
Since early June, Portland’s immigration facility has been targeted by repeated protests, some turning violent.
By 8 September, federal prosecutors had charged 26 people with arson, assaulting officers, and resisting arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security accused demonstrators of laying siege to the facility. Officials confirmed arrests and federal charges against multiple individuals.
Authorities also said Rose City Antifa published ICE officers’ home addresses online. They claimed affiliated activists sent death threats to federal staff.
trump designates antifa a terrorist group
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order naming Antifa a domestic terrorist organisation. The network is loosely organised and linked to far-left activists.
Legal experts said US law does not permit such formal designations. They warned the order could face First Amendment challenges.
echoes of 2020 unrest
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden warned federal agents risk repeating tactics used in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder.
He urged residents not to react violently and accused Trump of deliberately inciting unrest.
Other Democrats criticised ICE for detaining people without criminal convictions.
Representative Suzanne Bonamici cited cases including a father arrested outside his child’s preschool and a firefighter detained while battling wildfires.
The Cato Institute reported 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal record.
republican support emerges
Some Republicans backed Trump’s deployment.
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer called Portland a crime-ridden warzone. She praised Trump for protecting federal facilities and taking decisive action.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon lawmaker, said lawlessness had spread across the city.
legal authority remains uncertain
Trump previously deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington DC. Federal agents are expected in Memphis, Tennessee, next week.
In Los Angeles, 2,000 federal personnel were sent after immigration raids. Days of clashes followed, with authorities using tear gas against protesters.
A federal judge ruled the deployment illegal under the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits domestic use of military forces.
It remains unclear whether Trump has legal authority to deploy troops in Oregon.
