A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to send hundreds of National Guard troops to the “war-ravaged” Portland — on the same day federal officers used tear gas and mace against anti-ICE protesters following more than 100 consecutive days of demonstrations.
The decision comes as a major blow to Trump, who had just last week described Portland as a “war-ravaged” city under attack by Antifa and announced plans to send in federal agents. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump, issued the temporary order on Saturday after both the city of Portland and the state of Oregon filed lawsuits against the federal government
Trump Faces Roadblock
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“The relationship between the federal government and the states, between the military and domestic law enforcement, and the balance of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government,” she wrote in her ruling.
“Whether we choose to follow what the Constitution mandates with respect to these three relationships goes to the heart of what it means to live under the rule of law in the United States.”
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In her ruling, Immergut noted that many of the protests outside a south Portland immigration facility had been largely peaceful in the days and weeks leading up to Trump’s order.
“Overall, the protests were small and uneventful,” she wrote.
“The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts.”
Immergut noted in her order that the temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days and will expire on October 18.
The White House pushed back against the ruling, saying it expects the president to be “vindicated” if the case is reviewed by a higher court.
“President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement — we expect to be vindicated by a higher court,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The New York Post.
Trump Adamant
Last week, Trump announced plans to send 200 National Guard troops to Portland to support immigration authorities and confront what he called “domestic terrorists,” promising to use “full force, if necessary.”
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He also ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy “all necessary troops.”
State officials immediately filed a lawsuit to stop the president from sending the forces—a move similar to what Trump has already done in Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Memphis, where protests have broken out.
Since June, Portland has been the scene of ongoing protests, where Antifa demonstrators—some wearing unusual costumes—have gathered at an ICE detention center, sometimes vandalizing the property and clashing violently with federal agents.
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Federal immigration officials said the facility has faced attacks for over 100 consecutive nights, with minimal support from local police, who they claim were instructed by city officials to hold back.
Earlier on Saturday, before Judge Karin Immergut’s ruling, hundreds of protesters marched to the South Macadam Avenue facility and clashed with federal officers, who responded with tear gas, mace, and pepper spray, scattering the crowd, local reports said.
Trump ordered his administration on Friday to look for federal funds in Portland that could be cut as a form of punishment for local officials in response to the ongoing unrest.
