Local officials are disputing the Trump administration’s portrayal of recent demonstrations at a facility in South Portland, asserting that the protests have been relatively small and manageable by local police. In a development confirmed by the White House, hundreds of federalized personnel from the California National Guard are being sent to Portland, as stated by Governor Gavin Newsom (D). Newsom has announced plans to file a lawsuit in response to this deployment.
This decision follows a federal judge’s temporary ruling that blocked the administration’s troop deployment to Oregon, citing insufficient evidence that local law enforcement could not handle immigration-related protests in the area.
While Newsom indicated that 300 California National Guard members would be dispatched, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell later clarified that approximately 200 troops would be sent to Portland. These troops are being reassigned from the greater Los Angeles area to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to protect federal property while performing official duties, Parnell noted. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield (D) stated that the state is preparing to take legal action against this deployment.
State and local leaders have condemned Trump’s directive to send federal troops as unnecessary and potentially dangerous. In a statement on Sunday, Newsom described the administration’s actions as “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power,” emphasizing that the situation is not about public safety but rather about power dynamics. He criticized the use of the U.S. military as a political tool against American citizens.
In contrast, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the deployment, stating, “President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement.”
The tense relationship between Trump and Governor Newsom has intensified since the summer when the president mobilized thousands of National Guard troops and Marines in response to protests in the Los Angeles area. Earlier this year, Trump also deployed Guard personnel to Washington, D.C., and hinted at sending troops to Chicago, ultimately calling up 300 National Guard members in Illinois last Saturday.
Governor Tina Kotek (D) announced that 101 Guard members arrived in Oregon on Saturday night, with expectations for more to follow on Sunday. She mentioned that her administration had not yet received any official notification from the federal government regarding the deployment. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson (D) criticized the administration’s actions as an infringement on the court’s decision and a potential catalyst for community unrest in an otherwise peaceful environment.
