Federal Judge Halts Trump's National Guard Deployment in Portland

Mon Nov 03 2025 15:19:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's deployment of the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, deeming the administration's claims of protest-related violence unfounded. The ruling continues a legal saga involving the use of federal troops to manage civil disturbances.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut has issued a ruling preventing the deployment of National Guard troops in Portland until at least Friday. The judge cited a lack of credible evidence of escalating violence in protests as a basis for her decision. This ruling follows a trial where both state and federal arguments were presented regarding the necessity and legality of military involvement in domestic situations. Legal experts indicated that existing appellate court orders may further hinder troop deployment for the time being, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding the federal government's response to protests.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon on Sunday blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, stating she found no credible evidence that protests in the city escalated before the federalization of the troops. This ruling will remain in effect until at least Friday.

The city and state of Oregon had initiated a lawsuit in September to prevent the deployment, catalyzing a legal back-and-forth that continues across several U.S. cities, including Chicago.

Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump, concluded after a three-day trial that the protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building didn’t meet the necessary conditions to deploy troops as dictated by federal law. In her 16-page ruling, she cited the volume of evidence presented, with over 750 exhibits submitted during the trial.

Claims of Violence Overstated

The Trump administration contended that calling in the National Guard was essential to safeguard federal assets in light of protests. However, Immergut's findings suggested that violence chiefly involved skirmishes between protesters and counter-protesters with no significant damage reported to federal property.

This court finds no credible evidence that during the past two months before the federalization order, protests spiraled out of control or involved more than isolated acts of violence with no severe injuries to federal staff, Immergut stated.

Legal Developments

This ruling comes during a tumultuous legal period for cities that have been the target of Trump's military strategies. Officials in Chicago have filed their lawsuits against similar troop deployments, disputing the president's justification for military presence in urban centers.

In earlier rulings, Immergut had restricted troop deployment, arguing that Trump failed to demonstrate the legal criteria needed for mobilizing the National Guard. She called his portrayal of Portland as “war-ravaged” simply disconnected from reality.

Despite a temporary suspension imposed by an appellate court on some of Immergut’s orders, her rulings currently stand as cities challenge the federal government’s military involvement.

Witness Testimonies and Community Response

During the trial, federal and local law enforcement officials discussed their collective responses to the protests, which reached their peak in June. Generally, the demonstrations involved small crowd sizes post-June as police adapted their strategies following riot declarations.

Federal witnesses, including those from the Department of Homeland Security, conveyed mixed sentiments about the troop deployment, with one stating it was news to him and that he had not requested additional personnel.

After the judge’s ruling, Oregon’s legal representatives maintained that local authorities could manage the protests effectively without national intervention.

None of these incidents suggest a rebellion or an incapacity to enforce the law, Oregon Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Kennedy stated during the trial.