PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon blocked the Trump administration troops from deploying in Portland, calling the action unconstitutional and unnecessary.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued the temporary order on Saturday after the state of Oregon and the city of Portland sued the federal government. They argued that President Donald Trump had no basis to send troops when the protests in the city were small and mostly peaceful.
Immergut agreed. “This country has a long tradition of resisting government overreach, especially military interference in civil life,” she wrote. “The United States is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law.”
The ruling blocks Trump’s plan to federalize 200 Oregon National Guard troops to “protect federal buildings.” He had described Portland as “war-ravaged,” a claim local leaders dismissed as false.
Judge Says Deployment Was Unjustified
Judge Immergut said presidents have broad authority to use the National Guard in limited cases. However, she ruled that the conditions in Portland did not meet that threshold.
“The plaintiffs showed that the protests were small and largely peaceful,” she wrote. “The president’s determination was untethered to the facts.”
The injunction against the Trump administration troops Portland deployment will stay in place until further hearings later this month. Legal experts say the order marks a growing pushback from courts against executive overreach.
White House Plans to Appeal
The White House quickly vowed to challenge the decision.
“President Trump acted within his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel,” said spokesperson Abigail Jackson. “We expect a higher court to reverse this ruling.”
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield welcomed the decision. “The ruling confirms that Portland is not the president’s war-torn fantasy,” he said. “Our city is not in chaos, and the National Guard is not his political tool.”
Federal Power vs. Local Control
The dispute reflects a wider national debate over how far a president can go in deploying federalized forces to American cities. Trump has sent or threatened to send troops to several Democrat-led cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
During a recent address in Virginia, he even suggested using cities as “training grounds” for troops — an idea critics called alarming.
A month earlier, another federal judge ruled that Trump’s use of 4,700 National Guard soldiers and Marines in Los Angeles was illegal. That case remains under appeal, but it influenced the Oregon ruling.
Protests in Portland Remain Small
The Portland protests have centered around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Before Trump’s deployment announcement, only a few dozen protesters gathered each night.
After the Trump administration troops Portland plan became public, the crowds grew. A peaceful march on Sept. 28 drew several thousand people, while police made only two arrests for minor assaults.
The Portland Police Bureau emphasized that it does not enforce federal immigration policy. Officers only intervene when vandalism or violence occurs. “Our job is to protect free speech and ensure safety,” a spokesperson said.
Tensions Rise at ICE Facility
On Saturday, about 400 protesters marched to the ICE building. Families with children, older citizens, and students joined the demonstration. Witnesses said federal agents fired tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowd.
Police arrested six people. Photos showed agents on rooftops aiming less-lethal weapons as helicopters circled overhead.
The scene echoed 2020, when Trump administration troops clashed nightly with demonstrators after George Floyd’s killing. Videos showed unidentified officers detaining people and putting them into unmarked vehicles.
A later Department of Homeland Security report found that many officers lacked proper training for those missions. Earlier this year, the federal government settled a lawsuit with the ACLU, compensating protesters injured by excessive force.
Experts Call It a Warning on Presidential Power
Constitutional scholars say the decision in Oregon reinforces limits on the president’s authority under the Insurrection Act and related laws.
“This case is about whether a president can use the military for domestic political goals,” said Dr. Emily Santos, a law professor at the University of Washington. “Judge Immergut made clear that the law does not allow it.”
She added, “Her line that this is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law, will echo through future cases.”
Next Steps in Court
The Justice Department will appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump’s legal team argues that federal troops are essential to protect national assets, but Oregon officials maintain that local police can manage the situation.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called the decision a “victory for constitutional governance.”
“Our city can handle its own security,” Wheeler said. “We don’t need troops patrolling our streets.”
As of Sunday, the Trump administration troops Portland deployment remains on hold. Protests outside the ICE facility have quieted, with only small gatherings. Some protesters celebrated the ruling, holding signs that read “Law, Not War.”
Leave a Reply