Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising use of 'full force' if needed, to suppress protests targeting immigration detention centres.
The US president claimed the move would help protect 'any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,' characterising the city as 'War ravaged' in a Truth Social post.
The announcement marks a further expansion of troop deployments in US cities, amid a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal immigration.
The latest move has drawn pushback from Democratic lawmakers, who said there was no need for federal troops to be deployed to Portland.
There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm, said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
Kotek told a news conference on Saturday that any deployment would be an abuse of power and said she was working with Oregon's Attorney General to see if any response is necessary.
Trump's post did not specify whether he intends to activate the National Guard or regular US military - nor what is meant by the use of 'full force'. However, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated, We stand ready to mobilize US military personnel in support of DHS [Department of Homeland Security] operations in Portland at the president's direction. The Department will provide information and updates as they become available.
The ICE facility in Portland has seen protest activity since early June, which has sometimes resulted in violent confrontations. The DHS accused demonstrators of repeatedly attacking and laying siege to the ICE processing center.
Governor Kotek expressed readiness to respond to any federal action, insisting that the community is not under siege. Conversely, some Republican officials, including US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, have supported Trump's decision, citing concerns over rising violence and lawlessness in Portland.
This escalation follows previous federal troop deployments to similar situations across major cities, raising questions about the legality and implications of such actions.
