California and Oregon have filed a lawsuit aiming to halt a federal directive that sends troops to Portland during widespread demonstrations.
On Sunday, the U.S. states of California and Oregon initiated legal action to prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from dispatching 200 California National Guard personnel to Portland.
This legal challenge arises amidst countrywide protests concerning Trump’s stricter immigration policies and the deployment of military forces in urban areas. The Pentagon announced the troops would be sent to “support US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel carrying out official duties, including enforcing federal law and protecting federal property.”
Gavin Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, stated he is suing Trump regarding the Guard deployment, describing it as “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power.” Both Oregon and California contend that deploying National Guard troops from outside the state constitutes an unprecedented overreach, necessitating a distinct court ruling.
An Oregon federal judge has already imposed a temporary injunction preventing any National Guard troop deployments to Portland, encompassing units from other states like California.
Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta collaborated with Oregon in requesting Judge Karin Immergut to prolong the order and prohibit the movement of California troops into Oregon.
The judicial order is set to remain active until at least October 19, pending the progression of the legal challenge.
This dispute emerged after Judge Immergut’s prior decision that prevented the Trump administration from deploying Oregon’s own National Guard within Portland during protests.
On Sunday, Trump informed reporters that the troop deployments were essential because “Portland is burning to the ground,” an assertion that local officials refuted.
This situation unfolds amidst wider disagreements between state and federal authorities regarding the application of military force within domestic contexts.
Over the weekend, demonstrations flared up across multiple U.S. cities, with hundreds convening outside Portland’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. During late-night rallies, protesters engaged in clashes with federal officers, resulting in several arrests. Minor solidarity marches also occurred in Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver.
Earlier in June, Trump had dispatched approximately 2,000 National Guard personnel and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell civil unrest sparked by immigration raids. Immigration enforcement served as a pivotal aspect of his 2024 election campaign, shaping numerous domestic policy choices.