Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Deploying National Guard in Portland

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit filed by Oregon’s state and city officials.

The judge ruled that the relatively small and peaceful protests in Portland did not justify the use of federalized troops, writing:

“This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs. This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.”

Immergut’s decision halts the deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard troops that the Trump administration announced earlier in the week, calling Portland a “war-ravaged city.”

White House Appeals the Ruling

Within hours, the Trump administration filed an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the president’s decision, stating:

“President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement. We expect to be vindicated by a higher court.”

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield praised the ruling as “a healthy check on the president,” adding:

“Portland is not the president’s war-torn fantasy. Our city is not ravaged, and there is no rebellion. Members of the Oregon National Guard are not tools for his political theater.”

Broader Pattern of Federal Intervention

The decision comes as Trump has deployed — or threatened to deploy — troops to Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, and Memphis, cities largely governed by Democrats.

Speaking to U.S. military leaders in Virginia earlier this week, Trump reportedly suggested using U.S. cities as “training grounds for the armed forces.”

Protests Grow After Deployment Announcement

Before the court’s decision was announced, around 400 demonstrators marched toward the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland.

The crowd, which included families with children and elderly people, was met with tear gas and pepper rounds fired by federal agents. At least six people were arrested.

Later in the night, agents once again emerged from the facility, using chemical munitions on a smaller group of around 100 people.

Echoes of the 2020 Portland Crackdown

The move has revived memories of 2020, when Trump sent hundreds of federal agents to Portland amid nationwide racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd.

That deployment sparked nightly clashes, with viral footage showing officers using unmarked vehicles to detain protesters.

A report by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general later found that while the deployment was legal, many officers lacked the proper training and equipment for the mission.

Earlier this year, the federal government agreed to settle an ACLU lawsuit over excessive force during those protests, compensating several injured demonstrators.