Hundreds gathered at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Oregon, on September 28, 2025, to protest former President Trump‘s announcement of a troop deployment to the city.The presentation followed trump’s decision to send the National Guard to Portland, a move decried by Oregon’s Democratic leadership but applauded by prominent state Republicans.
Protesters voiced frustration with calls from city and state political leaders to “stay calm” and “don’t take the bait,” arguing the message perpetuated narratives used by the Trump management to discredit demonstrations.”We are not. We are average, everyday citizens who are tired of the illegal actions of this administration and we are out here protesting well within our constitutional rights,” said Dina, a protest organizer and deacon at a Portland-area church.
Oregon and the city of Portland filed a federal lawsuit arguing the administration had overreached and acted unlawfully.
State House minority leader Christine Drazan criticized characterizations of Portland as “doing fine” as “tone-deaf.” Lori Chavez-deremer, Trump’s labor secretary and a former Oregon representative, claimed she’d witnessed Portland transform “from a gorgeous place to live to a crime-ridden war zone.”