U.S Judge Blocks Trump's Deployment of National Guard in Portland; California Governor Vows to Sue Over Troop Redeployment
A federal judge in the United States has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying 200 National Guard soldiers to Portland, Oregon in response to anti-government protests. Despite the injunction, the Trump administration has moved to send 300 California National Guard troops to Oregon, prompting California Governor, Gavin Newsom, to announce a lawsuit against the administration. The deployment marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration's use of federal intervention in Democrat-led cities.
Background
President Trump's decision to send National Guard soldiers to Portland came amid continuing protests in the city against the government's immigration policy. Local authorities and a federal judge have stated that there is no 'insurrection in Portland, nor a threat to national security'. Oregon and the city of Portland had brought a lawsuit against the deployment, arguing it was unlawful and exceeded the president’s statutory and constitutional authority. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the federal action.
Key Developments
Following the court order blocking the Oregon National Guard from being deployed, the Trump administration moved to redeploy 300 California National Guard personnel to Oregon. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday that he would sue the Trump administration over the deployment. His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn’t about crime. It’s about power. He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego,
Newsom said in a post on social media.
Additionally, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced that President Trump will deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois, Oregon and other locations, further escalating the issue.
Implications
The deployment of the National Guard to Democrat-led cities has been seen as a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s use of federal intervention. Governor Newsom has described the move as a 'breathtaking abuse of the law and power', while Governor Pritzker called it 'Trump’s Invasion'. Both governors have emphasized that the National Guards must not be used as political props.
Current Status
Despite the court ruling and ongoing legal action, President Trump announced that the National Guard is now in place in Portland. His administration remains committed to restoring law and order in the city amid protests against immigration enforcement. The state of Oregon has since filed a second lawsuit to block the deployment of the National Guard troops. The situation continues to evolve, with further legal action expected from both sides.