Donald Trump has ordered troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising full force if needed to control protests at immigration detention centres.
The president said the deployment would protect federal facilities from Antifa attacks and other domestic threats. He described the city as war-ravaged in a Truth Social post.
The move expands federal troop deployments 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 requiring military intervention.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called communities safe and calm. She said any troop deployment would abuse presidential authority.
At a Saturday news conference, Kotek confirmed she was working with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to review legal options. She promised the state would respond if necessary.
trump’s order lacks clarity
Trump did not specify whether he would deploy National Guard units or regular military personnel. He also left the meaning of full force undefined.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military is prepared to support the Department of Homeland Security in Portland. He promised further updates as details emerge.
protests trigger arrests and federal charges
Since early June, Portland’s immigration facility has been the focus of 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 protesters 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 affiliated activists sent death threats to federal staff.
trump labels antifa a terrorist organisation
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order naming Antifa a domestic terrorist group. The network is loosely organised and associated with far-left activists.
Legal experts said US law does not allow formal designations of domestic terrorist groups. They warned the order could face First Amendment challenges.
concerns of repeating 2020 tactics
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden warned federal forces could repeat tactics used in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder.
He urged residents not to react violently and accused Trump of provoking unrest.
Other Democrats criticised ICE for detaining people without criminal convictions.
Representative Suzanne Bonamici cited cases including a father arrested outside his child’s preschool and a firefighter detained while fighting wildfires.
The Cato Institute reported 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal record.
republican support for deployment
Some Republicans supported Trump’s decision.
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 taken hold in the city.
legal authority remains uncertain
Trump previously sent the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington DC. Federal agents are 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 that deployment illegal under the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits domestic use of military forces.
It remains unclear whether Trump has legal authority to send troops into Oregon.
