The Trump administration has activated 200 National Guard troops in Portland as Oregon officials await a federal court ruling concerning the deployment.
On Friday, the city and state’s lawyers filed a request for a temporary restraining order to stop the troops from being mobilized.
U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, an appointee of President Donald Trump, conducted a two-hour hearing on the matter and indicated she would issue a decision by the end of the day or the following day.
However, just hours later, U.S. Northern Command announced that the troops had been activated by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to provide support and protection for federal personnel and property in and around Portland.
This deployment is particularly focused on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, which has been a site of protests against Trump’s immigration policies.
In response to the developments, Governor Tina Kotek expressed her commitment to uphold Oregon values while awaiting Immergut’s ruling.
Kotek’s statement emphasized the importance of patience among Oregonians who wish to voice their concerns, urging them to do so peacefully and to remain calm.
During the hearing, representatives for the city and state argued that the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland could exacerbate civil unrest.
They criticized Trump’s rhetoric, suggesting it was exaggerated and politically motivated, failing to mirror the reality on the ground.
Caroline Turco, senior deputy city attorney, highlighted a disparity between perception and reality, arguing, “The perception is that it is World War II out here. The reality is that this is a beautiful city with a sophisticated resource that can handle the situation.”
Federal attorneys, including Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Hamilton, argued for the necessity of the troops, stating they were required to defend against what he described as “cruel radicals who have laid siege” to the city’s ICE facility.
Hamilton pointed to past incidents where protesters engaged in violence against law enforcement officers, although Portland’s legal team contended that such incidents were isolated and already managed by local police prior to the deployment order.
Throughout the hearing, Judge Immergut questioned the justification for deploying troops, suggesting that local law enforcement had effectively managed the situation in Portland.
Opponents of the deployment argue that the ongoing protests in Portland are largely peaceful and stand in stark contrast to the portrayal of the city by White House officials, which suggests an out-of-control environment.
The tensions rose further after three individuals were arrested for disorderly conduct following a skirmish outside the immigration detention center, where pro-Trump activists and protesters clashed.
Among those arrested was conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who stated on social media that police actions were influenced by “Antifa thugs,” referring to the informal anti-fascist movement.
Antifa, which lacks a centralized structure, was labeled a terrorist organization by Trump last month, reflecting the administration’s firm stance against it.
Portland Police Chief Bob Day clarified that Sortor’s arrest was not politically motivated, noting that he was unaware of Sortor’s identity prior to his detainment.
Day commented on the irony of the situation, stating, “The irony here is we were condemned in 2020 for our approach towards the left, and now we’re being condemned in 2025 for our approach to the right.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt voiced concerns about the situation in Portland, suggesting that the administration may consider cutting federal aid in response to what she characterized as a sustained “left-wing anarchy” disrupting the city for years.
“This is not peaceful protesting,” Leavitt asserted, criticizing the unrest and stating that it has caused numerous issues for city residents and businesses.
With mobilization efforts underway, members of the National Guard began reporting for duty on Wednesday, undergoing training for potential civil disturbances.
Governor Kotek, a Democrat, indicated that the deployment could cost taxpayers approximately $10 million and reiterated her stance that there is no insurrection or need for military intervention.
Kotek’s spokesperson, Roxy Mayer, stated, “As the governor has expressed many times to the president, there is no insurrection and no need for military intervention.”
Reflecting on past protests following George Floyd’s death, many fear the potential for violent clashes akin to those seen in 2020 when federal forces were deployed in response to the unrest.
Mark Knutson, pastor of Portland’s Augustana Lutheran Church, expressed concern that deploying military forces would provoke violence among protestors, stating, “Whenever you put in militarized troops in cities where people are protesting, you’re literally baiting people to do something violent.”
Civil rights advocates, alongside local lawmakers, argue that Portland has significantly changed since those tumultuous times, noting improvements in the downtown area as businesses have reopened and larger foot traffic has returned post-pandemic.
Activist Keren Rodriguez remarked that residents are committed to a different approach than the past, stating, “We all understood that we didn’t want to do that anymore. We knew we wanted to have a different approach.”
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