Oregon sues Trump administration over national guard deployment

Oregon has filed a lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s move to deploy 200 National Guard troops to Portland under Title 10 authority, following an order from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The deployment, expected to last 60 days, was detailed in a memo from Hegseth on September 28. It comes after Trump vowed to send troops to Portland and immigration detention centers nationwide, Caliber.Az reports via The Washington Post. 

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek strongly opposed the decision, saying she told Trump during a September 27 phone call that there was "no public threat requiring military intervention in Portland, or any other city in Oregon."

“Despite this, and with all evidence to the contrary, he has chosen to disregard Oregonians’ safety,” Kotek told reporters on September 28. “This is not necessary, and I believe it’s unlawful.”

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed the lawsuit in partnership with the city of Portland, calling the deployment an “unlawful federalization” of the state’s National Guard. He plans to seek a temporary restraining order to halt the activation.

“The president is either purposely ignoring the reality on the ground in Portland to score political points, or, at best, is recklessly relying upon social media,” Rayfield said.

This latest clash follows similar disputes between Trump and Democratic governors, including a June confrontation with California Gov. Gavin Newsom over control of the California National Guard. A federal judge later ruled that Trump violated the Posse Comitatus Act by using troops in law enforcement roles, though that order remains on hold pending appeal.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the Portland deployment as “lawful,” citing “months of violent riots where officers have been assaulted and doxxed by left-wing rioters.”

In his memo, Hegseth said recent “incidents of violence and disorder” justified the deployment to “temporarily protect” federal personnel, particularly at an ICE facility that has drawn protests since 2018.

While past demonstrations have turned violent, recent protests have been mostly peaceful, with only small gatherings near the ICE center this weekend.

Kotek said she initially believed her discussion with Trump would continue but was later informed the White House would proceed with invoking Title 10.

“I contacted the White House to express my disagreement and disgruntlement with that decision,” she said.

By Sabina Mammadli