Donald Trump has deployed troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising the use of full force if needed to control protests at immigration detention centres.
The president said the action would protect facilities from Antifa attacks and other domestic threats. He described the city as war-ravaged in a post on Truth Social.
The deployment expands federal troop presence in US cities as part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown.
democratic leaders criticise deployment
Democratic officials condemned the move, saying Portland faces no threat requiring federal intervention.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called the city calm and safe. She said any troop deployment would abuse presidential power.
Speaking on Saturday, Kotek said she was working with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to consider legal options. She assured the state would respond if necessary.
trump’s order leaves questions
Trump did not clarify whether he would send the National Guard or regular military personnel. He also did not define what full force means.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military stands 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 faced repeated protests, sometimes 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 several individuals.
Authorities also said Rose City Antifa published ICE officers’ home addresses online. They claimed affiliated activists sent death threats to staff.
trump designates antifa a terrorist group
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order naming Antifa a domestic terrorist organisation. The movement is loosely organised and associated with 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 agents 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 targeting individuals without criminal records.
Representative Suzanne Bonamici cited cases including a father arrested outside his child’s preschool and a firefighter detained while fighting wildfires.
The Cato Institute reported 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal convictions.
republican support for trump
Some Republicans defended the deployment.
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer described Portland as a crime-ridden warzone. She praised Trump for protecting federal facilities.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon lawmaker, said lawlessness had taken hold of the city.
legal authority under scrutiny
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 later ruled the deployment illegal under the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military use in domestic affairs.
It remains uncertain whether Trump has the legal authority to send troops to Oregon.
