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 protect federal facilities from attacks by Antifa 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 crackdown on illegal immigration.
democratic leaders criticise deployment
Democratic officials condemned the decision, saying Portland faces no threat that requires federal intervention.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek described communities as calm and safe. She warned that sending troops would be an abuse of presidential authority.
At a Saturday news conference, Kotek said she was working with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to consider legal options. She promised the state would act if necessary.
trump’s order leaves questions
Trump did not clarify whether he planned to send National Guard units or regular military personnel. He also left undefined what full force would involve.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military is ready to support the Department of Homeland Security in Portland. He promised further updates as information becomes available.
protests lead to 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 demonstrators 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 activists linked to the group 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 group is loosely organised and associated with far-left activists.
Legal experts said US law does not allow formal designations of domestic terrorist organisations. They warned the order could face First Amendment challenges.
concerns over 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 respond violently and accused Trump of deliberately provoking unrest.
Other Democrats criticised ICE for detaining individuals 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 that 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal record.
republican support emerges
Some Republicans defended the deployment.
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer described Portland as 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 also 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 restricts domestic military involvement.
It remains unclear whether Trump has legal authority to send troops into Oregon.
