A U.S. federal judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops from California and Texas to Portland, Oregon. This ruling, announced late on Sunday, follows a previous decision where the same court rejected Trump’s request to deploy Oregon’s own National Guard members to the city.
Portland has become a focal point in Trump’s efforts to combat what he claims is rampant crime, coinciding with ongoing protests related to his administration’s immigration policies. In addition to the situation in Portland, the President has also sanctioned the deployment of National Guard forces from other states to Chicago, Illinois.
Details of the ruling
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who appointed by Trump, made her ruling shortly after the Pentagon acknowledged that 200 members of the California National Guard had been redirected to Portland to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal personnel. California and Oregon had jointly requested a temporary restraining order against the deployment.
Judge Immergut emphasized that there was no substantiated evidence indicating that the ongoing protests necessitated the presence of National Guard troops from other states. During an emergency hearing on Sunday, she questioned federal legal representatives about how this troop deployment did not merely circumvent her earlier ruling, which denied the deployment of Oregon’s National Guard. In her prior decision, she underscored that using military force to manage civil unrest without the consent of state officials threatened the sovereignty of Oregon and could escalate tensions within Portland.
“One of the most egregious and thunderous violations of constitutional order we have ever seen,” remarked Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, in response to the ruling.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the media, describing Judge Immergut’s decision as “untethered in reality and in the law,” asserting that Trump was justified in calling up the National Guard in situations he considers appropriate. “We’re very confident in the president’s legal authority to do this,” she stated, expressing belief that the administration would prevail legally.
Ongoing legal challenges and implications
The temporary restraining order is set to remain in effect until at least October 19, with the Trump administration anticipated to expedite its appeal against the ruling. Concurrently, Illinois state and the city of Chicago initiated a lawsuit on Monday aimed at obstructing a similar troop deployment planned by the Trump administration.
“The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military,” stated Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, emphasizing the importance of local governance.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized Trump’s decision to deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard, labeling it as “Trump’s invasion” and asserting that such actions should not occur without local officials’ consent. He expressed concerns that deploying troops would heighten tensions and potentially lead to unrest.
In contrast, Texas Governor Greg Abbott backed Trump’s call to mobilize the Texas National Guard, stating that it was essential to ensure protection for federal officials amid the unrest.
The unrest in Portland reflects broader national tensions over immigration enforcement, similar to issues seen in Chicago, where protests have erupted against heightened immigration policies. Over the weekend, demonstrations in Chicago turned violent, resulting in armed conflict with law enforcement.
Trump’s administration has sought to leverage National Guard units in various U.S. cities as part of a broader strategy to address what he perceives as lawlessness and support immigration enforcement efforts. Previously, a federal judge in California ruled that the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles was unlawful, citing limitations on the federal government’s authority to utilize military force domestically, a decision that the administration is currently appealing.