Judge Blocks Trump's Attempts to Deploy Troops to Portland
A federal judge issued an order on Sunday blocking the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, after US President Donald Trump ordered about 200 members of the California National Guard to be sent to the city.
According to a statement from the Department of Defense, the troops were intended to support US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and protect federal property. However, Judge James A. Redmond Jr. ruled that Trump's claims that Portland is a "war zone" are "untethered to the facts."
The deployment was part of Trump's efforts to quell nightly protests outside the federal ICE building in Portland, which city and state authorities have described as "small and sedate." Trump has repeatedly referred to the city as "war-ravaged," sparking criticism from local officials.
"We cannot allow the president to use the military as a tool for his own personal agenda," said Oregon Governor Kate Brown. "This is not about public safety, it's about politics."
The move to reassign troops from California was an attempt by Trump to circumvent a federal judge's order blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland.
In a statement, the Department of Defense claimed that the troops would be sent to Oregon's largest city "to support US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property."
The protests in Portland have been ongoing for weeks, with demonstrators calling for an end to Trump's militarized clampdown on immigration.
"We will not be intimidated by the president's attempts to silence us," said a protester outside the ICE building. "We will continue to stand up for our rights and demand justice."
The judge's ruling has put a hold on the deployment of troops, but it is unclear what the next steps will be. The city of Portland has vowed to continue its efforts to protect protesters' rights.
As the situation in Portland continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the debate over immigration policy and the role of the military in policing protests is far from over.
*Reporting by Dw.*
