In a major legal setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge has blocked the president’s attempt to send National Guard troops from California and Texas to Portland, Oregon.
The ruling came late on Sunday from U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump himself. She said there was no evidence that the city’s protests made it necessary to deploy federalized troops.
The decision came just hours after the Pentagon confirmed that 200 members of the California National Guard were reassigned to Portland to help federal agents with immigration enforcement and public order operations.
California and Oregon quickly filed for a restraining order, arguing that the deployment violated state sovereignty and circumvented a previous court ruling.
Judge Immergut agreed, saying that Trump’s move appeared to be an attempt to bypass her earlier decision, which had denied him permission to send Oregon’s own National Guard without the governor’s consent.
She emphasized that using troops without state approval could inflame tensions and threaten the independence of states.
The order will remain in effect until at least October 19, while further hearings are scheduled. The White House has not yet commented on the ruling.
🔥 Background
Portland has been a flashpoint for protests over Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and crackdowns on left-wing activists. The city has long been criticized by Trump as a hub for Antifa, a loose movement of anti-fascist protesters that he recently designated as a domestic terrorist group.
Despite the judge’s order, Trump’s administration had already authorized additional National Guard troops to other Democrat-led cities, including Chicago, citing “out-of-control crime” as the reason.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker slammed the president’s decision, calling it “Trump’s invasion” and warning that it would turn cities into war zones.
He also demanded that Texas Governor Greg Abbott withdraw his state’s troops, saying there was “no reason” to deploy them without state consent.
Governor Abbott, however, defended Trump’s move, saying Texas would “fully support” the mission to protect federal workers.
⚠️ Protests and Violence
Protests continued across Portland and Chicago over the weekend.
In Chicago, officials said immigration officers opened fire on an armed woman who allegedly rammed law enforcement vehicles. Her condition remains unclear, but she drove herself to the hospital afterward.
The Portland protests, sparked by Trump’s immigration policies, have been ongoing for months. Federal agents have been accused of using excessive force, while protesters claim they are fighting for civil rights and state autonomy.
🇺🇸 What’s Next?
Legal experts say the ruling is a major setback for Trump’s federal authority over state National Guards.
Judge Immergut’s order may also influence upcoming cases about whether the president can deploy state forces without approval from governors.
For now, the deployment has been frozen, and the next court hearing will decide whether the ban becomes permanent.