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 that any deployment would be an abuse of power, and stated she was working with Oregon's Attorney General to determine if a response was essential.
Trump's post does not specify whether he intends to activate the National Guard or regular US military, nor what is meant by the use of full force. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the military was prepared to mobilize at the President's direction.
The ICE facility in Portland has faced protests since early June, at times resulting in violent clashes. Federal charges have been filed against protesters for various crimes, as the DHS mentions that demonstrators have repeatedly attacked an ICE processing center.
Despite the backlash from Democrats, some Republican officials expressed support for the action, arguing that disorder has plagued Portland.
With this escalation, questions loom about the legal framework for deploying federal forces, especially following recent judgements deeming earlier troop deployments in other cities illegal.
