Trump Sends California Guard to Portland Despite Court Block

President Donald Trump has reassigned roughly 200 federalized California National Guard members to Portland, Oregon, following a court order temporarily blocking the deployment of Oregon's own guard troops.

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the reassignment, noting that about 100 troops arrived Saturday and another 100 were en route Sunday. The move follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut that temporarily barred Oregon's guard deployment, citing small-scale protests and state sovereignty concerns.

Governors Vow Legal Fight

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said the federal government did not formally communicate about the deployment and called it unnecessary. "There's no insurrection in Portland, there's no threat to national security," she said. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield stated that the state, alongside Portland and California, is seeking an amended restraining order to block the troops’ deployment.

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the action as a "breathtaking abuse of the law and power," emphasizing that the California National Guard was federalized months ago for Los Angeles unrest and should not be redirected. California Attorney General Rob Bonta added, "Trump can't use our military troops as his own personal police force."

Court Filings Question Legality

Lawsuits from Oregon and California argue the president lacks legal authority to redeploy federalized National Guard troops for purposes other than repelling invasions, suppressing rebellions, or enforcing federal law. The filings note that Portland protests remain localized and peaceful, undermining the justification for military intervention.

Federal Actions and Local Response

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson criticized federal agents for using pepper spray and impact munitions against protesters outside the ICE facility, describing the approach as unnecessarily aggressive. The city has alerted the Department of Justice’s civil rights division.

The deployment to Oregon mirrors a recent federal move in Chicago, where 300 Illinois National Guard troops were authorized to protect federal property. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker opposed the deployment, stating the situation did not require military involvement.

Trump has characterized several U.S. cities, including Portland and Chicago, as hotspots of unrest and has discussed sending troops to ten cities since the start of his second term.