An extraordinary weekend in Portland drew national headlines as President Donald Trump intensified his efforts to send National Guard troops into the city, that the local and state officials vehemently opposed, alongside a federal judge’s objections.
The tense 48 hours unfolded with dramatic developments surrounding the ongoing protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in South Portland.
On Friday, Oct. 3, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut presided over a hearing that revealed starkly contrasting portrayals of the protests.
During the session, Trump’s legal team presented a narrative of chaos, claiming that protesters had assaulted federal law enforcement and damaged federal property with rocks and incendiary devices.
However, attorneys representing the state of Oregon and the city of Portland countered with evidence of relatively peaceful protests, illustrating a scene where only a few individuals were present at the ICE facility the night before Trump’s social media post—a night described by police as having low energy and minimal activity.
That Friday also saw the Trump administration launch an investigation into the Portland police’s management of the protests following the arrest of conservative journalist Nick Sortor.
During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the protesters as “violent mob members” and criticized the city’s handling of the unrest.
The following day, Oct. 4, a large protest commenced with hundreds marching towards the ICE facility from a local park.
Initially calm, the demonstration escalated when federal law enforcement deployed tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowd, resulting in several arrests as tensions mounted.
In a significant ruling that afternoon, Judge Immergut granted a temporary restraining order against President Trump’s attempt to deploy members of the Oregon National Guard under federal control, finding that the incidents at the ICE facility did not warrant such a federal intervention.
Immergut stressed that the potential deployment could incite further unrest, asserting that the actions could infringe upon Oregon’s sovereignty.
Hours later, federal officers escalated their tactics against protesters, pushing crowds back down the streets and employing various crowd-control measures without clear provocation, further intensifying the situation.
In a surprising turn, Trump’s team filed an appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Saturday, signaling their intention to challenge Judge Immergut’s ruling.
As Sunday dawned on Oct. 5, some residents near the ICE facility took to the streets to clean up debris left from Saturday’s protests, reflecting a community still reeling from the tensions.
Reports emerged that President Trump circumvented the previous ruling by deploying members of the California National Guard to Portland, a decision that drew swift condemnation from both Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon.
The situation became even more complicated as both states announced plans to challenge the Trump administration’s deployment legally.
In a surprising twist, the Texas National Guard also appeared to be summoned to assist in the federal operation, with a court filing noting that up to 400 troops from Texas were on standby for deployment in Portland and elsewhere.
Late Sunday evening, amidst growing opposition, Judge Immergut held a hearing and issued another order blocking the federalized deployment of any National Guard members, regardless of state affiliation, to Oregon.
The ruling followed a statement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott that hinted at the possibility of Texas National Guard troops being sent to assist federal workers amid political pushback from Oregon’s officials.
Immergut’s latest ruling aimed to prevent any such intervention and highlights the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding federal troop deployment in states where lawmakers have expressed their opposition.
As President Trump continues to face legal challenges, it remains to be seen how this conflict will evolve and whether federal interventions will ultimately escalate or de-escalate the ongoing tensions in Portland’s streets.
image source from：opb
