Former President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of federal troops to Portland, Oregon, to counter ongoing protests near Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had authorized the use of “full force” to protect facilities under “siege” from groups he labeled as “Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”
This move marks a significant escalation in federal involvement in immigration-related protests. Trump described Portland as “war-ravaged” and warned that continued attacks on ICE sites would not be tolerated.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it is prepared to work with military forces, stating:
“We stand ready to mobilize US military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland,” according to chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
However, Oregon state officials pushed back strongly. Governor Tina Kotek called the potential troop deployment an “abuse of power,” adding that there is “no national security threat in Portland.” She is working with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield to assess possible legal responses.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Ron Wyden, warned that Trump’s actions mirror controversial federal interventions during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd.
“There are credible reports federal agents may be replaying the 2020 playbook,” Wyden said, urging Oregonians to remain peaceful.
Protests at Portland’s ICE facility have continued since early June, with multiple clashes resulting in 26 federal charges, including arson and assaulting officers. The DHS claims demonstrators have attacked the ICE processing center and doxed ICE officers online.
Earlier this week, Trump formally labeled Antifa—a loosely organized far-left movement—as a domestic terrorist organization. However, legal experts have noted that the U.S. lacks a formal mechanism to designate domestic groups as terrorist entities, raising First Amendment concerns.
ICE actions in Oregon have also sparked criticism. Lawmakers highlighted troubling incidents, including the arrest of a father outside his child’s preschool and a firefighter detained while on duty.
As tensions rise, questions remain about how far Trump is willing to go in deploying federal power in cities seen as political flashpoints.
