Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Deployment of National Guard to Portland
SAN FRANCISCO - A U.S. District judge has temporarily blocked former President Donald Trump’s attempt to deploy 300 California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, granting an emergency temporary restraining order sought by the state of California. The ruling, issued friday, halts any federalization, relocation, or deployment of California National Guard members to Oregon.
The legal challenge stemmed from the Trump administration’s efforts to bolster federal law enforcement presence in portland during protests in the summer of 2020. California officials argued the deployment was an unlawful overreach of federal power,asserting the state’s National Guard troops were needed for potential wildfires and other emergencies within California. This case underscores the ongoing tension between federal authority and states’ rights, notably regarding the use of National guard forces during civil unrest. An appeal from the Justice Department is anticipated, possibly escalating the legal battle over presidential authority in deploying National Guard units.
California Governor Gavin Newsom swiftly responded to the court’s decision, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “BREAKING: We just won in court – again. A federal judge BLOCKED Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND. the court granted our request for a Temporary Restraining Order – HALTING ANY FEDERALIZATION, RELOCATION, OR DEPLOYMENT of ANY GUARD MEMBERS TO OREGON FROM ANY STATE. Trump’s abuse of power won’t stand.”
The Justice Department has indicated its intention to appeal the ruling, maintaining that the president possesses the authority, under federal law, to deploy National Guard forces during periods of “domestic unrest.” The core of the legal dispute centers on interpretations of federal statutes governing the National Guard and the limits of presidential power in deploying these forces without explicit state consent.
(Fox News’ Lee Ross contributed to this report.)
