Donald Trump has ordered federal 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 defend 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 wider crackdown on illegal immigration.
democratic leaders criticise deployment
Democratic officials condemned the move, saying Portland faces no threat that justifies federal intervention.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek described communities as calm and safe. She warned that sending troops would constitute an abuse of presidential authority.
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.
trump’s order leaves key questions
Trump did not clarify whether he would deploy National Guard units or regular military personnel. He also left the meaning of full force undefined.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military is prepared to support the Department of Homeland Security in Portland. He promised further updates as details emerge.
protests trigger arrests and federal charges
Since early June, Portland’s immigration facility has faced repeated protests, some turning violent.
By 8 September, federal prosecutors charged 26 people with arson, assaulting officers, and resisting arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security accused protesters of laying siege to the facility. Officials confirmed arrests and federal charges against multiple individuals.
Authorities said Rose City Antifa published ICE officers’ home addresses online. They claimed activists linked to the group sent death threats to federal staff.
trump designates antifa a terrorist organisation
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order naming Antifa a domestic terrorist group. The network is loosely organised and linked to far-left activists.
Legal experts said US law does not allow formal designation of domestic terrorist groups. They warned the order could face First Amendment challenges.
fears of repeating 2020 tactics
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden warned federal forces might repeat tactics used in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder.
He urged residents not to react violently, accusing Trump of deliberately provoking 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 for deployment
Some Republicans backed Trump’s decision.
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer described Portland as a crime-ridden warzone. She praised Trump for protecting federal facilities and acting decisively.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon lawmaker, said lawlessness had taken hold in the city.
legality of deployment remains uncertain
Trump previously sent 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 deployed after immigration raids. Days of clashes followed, with tear gas used on protesters.
A federal judge ruled the deployment illegal under the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits domestic military involvement.
It remains unclear whether Trump has legal authority to send troops into Oregon.
