Donald Trump has ordered troops to Portland, Oregon, and authorised full force if required to curb protests at immigration detention centres.
The president claimed the measure would protect facilities under threat from Antifa and other domestic terrorists. He described the city as war-ravaged in a Truth Social post.
The decision marks a new expansion of federal deployments in US cities as part of his immigration crackdown.
democratic leaders denounce decision
Democratic lawmakers rejected the move, saying no federal troops were needed in Portland.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared the communities calm and safe. She called the deployment an abuse of presidential power.
Speaking on Saturday, Kotek confirmed she was working with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to assess legal action. She pledged Oregon would respond if required.
unclear scope of trump’s order
Trump gave no indication whether he planned to use the National Guard or regular military forces. He also failed to define what full force meant.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military stood ready to assist the Department of Homeland Security. He promised further updates when available.
protests lead to arrests and charges
Since early June, Portland’s immigration facility has been the focus of 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 reported arrests and federal charges against several protesters.
The department also alleged Rose City Antifa exposed ICE officers’ home addresses and circulated them on flyers. It said activists sent death threats to federal staff.
trump labels antifa a terrorist group
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order designating Antifa a domestic terrorist organisation. The movement is loosely organised and linked to far-left activists.
Legal experts said no US law permits such a designation. They warned the order could face First Amendment challenges protecting free speech and assembly.
concerns over repeat of 2020 tactics
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon warned federal forces might be replaying 2020 tactics after the murder of George Floyd.
He urged Oregonians not to react violently, accusing Trump of deliberately provoking unrest.
Other Democrats accused ICE of detaining people who posed no real danger.
Representative Suzanne Bonamici said ICE promised to target criminals but instead detained individuals without convictions. She cited cases of a father arrested outside a preschool and a firefighter taken while battling wildfires.
The Cato Institute reported that 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal record.
republican support for deployment
Republican officials backed Trump’s order.
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer described Portland as a crime-ridden warzone. She thanked Trump for protecting immigration facilities and praised his leadership.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon representative, said lawlessness had gripped the city.
legal authority questioned
Trump previously sent the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington DC. Federal agents are also due in Memphis, Tennessee, next week.
In Los Angeles, 2,000 federal personnel were deployed after immigration raids. Days of unrest followed, with tear gas used against protesters.
A federal judge ruled that deployment illegal under the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the military’s role in domestic affairs.
It remains uncertain whether Trump has the legal authority to send troops to Oregon.
