The President approved the deployment Saturday to address protests at a Portland ICE facility|The National Guard|CC BY 2.0
Oregon and Portland are suing President Donald Trump to halt his order to deploy National Guard troops to the city.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday in District Court, argues that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s memorandum calling 200 Oregon Guard members into federal service for 60 days is “patently unlawful.”
Trump approved the deployment Saturday to address protests at a Portland ICE facility, saying troops could use “Full Force” if needed. White House officials claim the action protects federal personnel after months of violent incidents.
The lawsuit counters that recent protests have involved fewer than 30 people and no arrests since mid-June. It warns that the federal presence may escalate tensions and divert local law enforcement resources.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called the deployment “absurd, unlawful, and un-American,” while the administration points to arrests and alleged anti-fascist activity.