A federal judge has delivered a significant legal blow to the Trump administration, ruling that the president illegally ordered the National Guard to deploy in Portland during recent protests.
Legal Setback for Administration
The ruling represents the first permanent block against Mr Trump's use of military force to suppress demonstrations targeting immigration authorities. This decision comes as the president attempts similar deployments in other Democrat-led cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington DC.
Judge Karin Immergut's interim order that previously prevented the Portland deployment has now been replaced by this permanent ruling. The legal challenge emerged after President Trump ordered the National Guard into Portland in late September, describing the city as "war ravaged" with "ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa."
Conflicting Perspectives on Portland Situation
The justice department maintained that federal law enforcement in Portland required National Guard assistance, claiming they were "unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." However, Oregon officials presented a different picture to the court.
According to Sky News' US partner NBC, while acknowledging some incidents of violence near Portland's ICE facility, state officials argued these were small in scale and manageable by existing local and federal law enforcement resources.
The City of Portland and Oregon Attorney General's Office filed suit shortly after the deployment order, alleging the administration was exaggerating occasional violence to justify sending troops. Democrats supported this position, claiming the move abused military powers intended for genuine emergencies.
Appeal Likely as White House Responds
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a defiant statement on Friday, declaring "President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities and we expect to be vindicated by a higher court."
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision, potentially setting the stage for a Supreme Court battle. The judge's ruling specifically determined that the Portland protests did not constitute an act of rebellion against the government.
Currently, the troops remain on standby but have not taken up positions within the city. The Oregon Attorney General's Office has not immediately responded to requests for comment following the landmark ruling.
