News - Federal Judge Stops National Guard Deployment in Portland, Challenging Trump’s Authority Claims

On Saturday, a U.S. District Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the Trump administration from sending 200 National Guardsmen to Portland, Oregon, amid intense protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The lawsuit, filed by the State of Oregon and the City of Portland, claimed that the deployment was illegal and that it exceeded the president’s legal and constitutional powers. Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, granted the TRO blocking the federal action. In her ruling, Immergut stated, "This country has a deep-seated and essential tradition of resisting government overreach, particularly regarding military involvement in civilian matters. This historical tradition essentially means: we are a nation governed by Constitutional law, not martial law." In granting the TRO, the court blocked the federalization and deployment of National Guard troops to Portland. The order will remain in effect for 14 days, until Oct. 18, unless extended. Immergut also denied the government’s request to stay or pause the order. Sandy Chung, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon, praised the judge’s decision, describing it as "aligned with both legal standards and the current situation in Portland." "Deploying our state’s National Guard members would not only squander up to $10 million of taxpayer money, but there is also no justification for sending troops into Portland," Chung stated. "The President’s effort is a menacing abuse of power and shows great disrespect for our state, its residents, and our National Guard service members."