Federal Judge Blocks Trump โฃPlan to Deploy National Guardโค in Portland
PORTLAND,โ Ore. – A federal judge temporarilyโ blockedโ former President Donald Trump’s recent โplanโข to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, halting a moveโ critics characterized as a revivalโฃ of tactics employed during the 2020 racial justice protests. The rulingโ came late Friday, following a lawsuitโฃ filed by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who argued the deployment would violate constitutional rights and โexceed federal authority.
The legal โchallengeโ centers โon Trump’s โannouncement earlier this week proposing the use of the National Guard to quell ongoing unrest in the city, specifically targeting clashes between demonstrators and counter-protesters. โRosenblumโข contends the deployment lacks โฃlegal justificationโฃ and mirrors the controversialโ actions taken in 2020 when federalโข agents were sent โto Portland overโ theโ objections of state and local leaders โฃfollowing the killing of George โFloydโฃ by โขMinneapolis โขpolice. That deployment, intended to protect federal property, resulted in nightly โclashes, the โฃuse of tear gas and rubberโ bullets, and the arrest โofโ individuals in unmarked vehicles. โขA Department of Homeland Security inspectorโ general report โคlater found many โagents lackedโค adequate training and equipment for the mission.
During the 2020 protests, federal agents repeatedly deployed โขtear gas on crowds, including oneโ instance in the evening where approximately โข100 peopel were targeted. The administration ultimately agreed to settle an excessive force lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union,compensating plaintiffs for injuries sustained during the โฃdemonstrations. The โขcurrent dispute underscores ongoing tensions between โฃfederal โฃand state authority regarding the handling of protests and the limits of federal intervention โฃin local law enforcement matters. The โjudge’s temporary restraining order will remain in effect until a further โhearing can be heldโฃ to determineโ the legality of Trump’s proposed deployment.