Donald Trump has directed troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising the use of full force if required to curb protests at immigration detention centres.
The president said the action would protect facilities under attack from Antifa and other domestic terrorists. He described the city as war-ravaged in a Truth Social post.
The order adds to previous troop deployments in US cities as part of his wider immigration crackdown.
democrats condemn the move
Democratic leaders criticised the decision, saying Portland faced no threat that justified federal troops.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared the communities safe and calm. She warned that any deployment would represent an abuse of power.
Speaking on Saturday, Kotek said she was working with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to assess legal options. She promised the state would act if necessary.
unanswered questions in trump’s directive
Trump did not clarify whether he planned to send National Guard units or regular military personnel. He also left undefined what full force would mean.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military stood ready to support the Department of Homeland Security. He confirmed updates would follow as plans developed.
protests trigger arrests and charges
Protests have surrounded Portland’s immigration facility since early June, at times turning violent.
By 8 September, federal prosecutors had filed charges against 26 people for arson, assaulting police and resisting arrest.
The Department of Homeland Security said protesters repeatedly attacked the facility. Officials confirmed arrests and federal charges.
The department also alleged Rose City Antifa exposed ICE officers’ home addresses online. It claimed activists linked to the group sent death threats to staff.
antifa branded terrorist organisation
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order designating Antifa a domestic terrorist group. The network is loosely organised and associated with far-left activists.
Legal experts said US law does not provide a framework for such a designation. They argued the order could face First Amendment challenges.
warnings of a repeat of 2020
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said federal forces might be repeating tactics used after the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
He urged Oregonians not to respond violently, accusing Trump of deliberately provoking unrest.
Other Democrats claimed ICE detained people without serious criminal backgrounds.
Representative Suzanne Bonamici cited examples, including a father arrested outside his child’s preschool and a firefighter detained while combating wildfires.
A Cato Institute report found 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal record.
republicans back trump’s order
Some Republicans supported the deployment.
Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer described Portland as a crime-ridden warzone. She praised Trump for protecting federal facilities and thanked him for decisive action.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon lawmaker, said the city had suffered from lawlessness.
legal questions remain unresolved
Trump previously deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington DC. Federal agents are expected in Memphis, Tennessee, next week.
In Los Angeles, 2,000 federal agents were sent to handle unrest after immigration raids. Days of clashes followed, with authorities using tear gas on crowds.
A federal judge later ruled that deployment unlawful under the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic matters.
It remains uncertain whether Trump has legal authority to send forces into Oregon.
