President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has authorized federal troops to be deployed to Portland, Oregon, labeling the city as “war ravaged.”
This announcement raises concerns about whether Boston could be the next city under similar military measures, a notion suggested by Trump’s border czar earlier this year.
In February, this official stated, “I’m coming to Boston and I’m bringing hell with me.”
Following Trump’s announcement regarding troops in Portland, Michelle Wu, the Mayor of Boston, referred to a prior statement when asked for comment.
“I don’t want to give the sense that all of a sudden Boston is under a new kind of target and we would experience new punishments that we haven’t already been seeing in our community,” Wu said earlier in September.
She emphasized that Boston has been a target of the Trump administration since before Inauguration Day, necessitating preparations in response to ongoing enforcement.
Wu noted that the potential surge of troops would intensify the responses required from Boston officials.
A spokesperson for Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
In August, Trump had previously sent federal troops to Washington, D.C., a move that was met with resistance from Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and nearly two dozen other states.
In another controversial deployment, federal troops were sent to Los Angeles in June, leading to an assertion from California officials that the action was illegal; a federal judge later confirmed this ruling.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump indicated that, at the request of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, he had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to protect Portland and “any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
Trump asserted, “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
The characterization of Portland as “war ravaged” was disputed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who described Trump’s actions as “delusional and dangerous.”
Warren stated on X, “Sending troops into American cities doesn’t make our communities safer — it just stokes fear and stirs up chaos.”
Additionally, the Trump administration’s dealings with Boston have been contentious, especially in light of comments from border czar Tom Homan directed at Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
In response to Cox asserting that state law limits local police involvement with federal immigration enforcement, Homan proclaimed, “I’m coming to Boston and I’m bringing hell with me.”
Massachusetts’ highest court ruled in 2017 that local law enforcement cannot hold suspects based solely on an ICE detainer, further complicating potential federal enforcement actions.
Boston has an ordinance that prevents the police from engaging in civil immigration enforcement; however, they are permitted to collaborate with ICE on criminal matters.
Mayor Wu criticized Homan earlier this week, highlighting that he accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents in a graft investigation.
She indicated how disappointing and unsurprising it was that someone promoting law adherence was involved in bribery and corruption, ultimately harming community safety and trust.
The Trump administration has also targeted Harvard University in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, seeking to cut funding and restrict its ability to accept international students.
According to Jim Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, these broader policy actions have significantly harmed Massachusetts’ economy, leaving it “in the gut” due to the administration’s actions.
Reactions from Oregon officials have been critical of Trump’s troop deployment plans as well.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned Trump’s decision to send military forces to U.S. cities, asserting that the number of troops needed in Portland is zero.
Wilson expressed that the nation has a long memory for oppression and asserted that lawlessness and violence would not emanate from the local community unless instigated by federal actions.
He urged that deploying engineers, teachers, or outreach workers would be far more beneficial than the impending military presence.
In a statement on X, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek expressed her office’s concerns and indicated that they are reaching out to the White House and Homeland Security for further clarification on the military deployment’s intentions.
Kotek stated, “There is no national security threat in Portland,” and emphasized the need for calm in the community as the situation progresses.
As the news develops, the responses from both local and national leaders continue to highlight the significant implications of federal military deployments in American cities.
image source from：masslive
