A federal district judge in Oregon blocked President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Portland over state objections, determining that his actions violated constitutional limits on federal power. Judge Karin Immergut issued an injunction on Friday evening after concluding that the administration lacked statutory justification to federalize Oregon Guard members and dispatch units from California and Texas to monitor protests near an immigration facility.
The 106-page opinion found that evidence failed to demonstrate either active rebellion or insufficient federal resources to maintain order at the location. Testimony from local law enforcement contradicted presidential characterizations of widespread violence, showing that most gatherings remained peaceful and crowd sizes were minimal. The judge also dismissed claims that Antifa represented an organized insurrectionary force in the city.
Governor Tina Kotek welcomed the decision as vindication against executive overreach. The ruling arrives as similar litigation from Illinois challenging guard deployments awaits Supreme Court review.
The 106-page opinion found that evidence failed to demonstrate either active rebellion or insufficient federal resources to maintain order at the location. Testimony from local law enforcement contradicted presidential characterizations of widespread violence, showing that most gatherings remained peaceful and crowd sizes were minimal. The judge also dismissed claims that Antifa represented an organized insurrectionary force in the city.
Governor Tina Kotek welcomed the decision as vindication against executive overreach. The ruling arrives as similar litigation from Illinois challenging guard deployments awaits Supreme Court review.
