WASHINGTON (AP) — On Sunday, a Defense Department memo disclosed that 200 members of the Oregon National Guard will fall under federal control and be deployed to safeguard immigration officers and governmental facilities. The decision is met with significant opposition from state leaders who argue it infringes on state authority.
This deployment follows a similar action taken last summer in Los Angeles amid widespread protests against deportations. However, Oregon's deployment is on a much smaller scale. As tensions surrounding the issue rise, both the White House and multiple Pentagon officials have yet to comment on the memo's authenticity.
President Donald Trump announced intentions to send troops to Portland, prompting Governor Tina Kotek to object directly during a conversation with him, asserting that Oregon is our home — not a military target. In response to Trump's deployment, Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced he would file a federal lawsuit, claiming the administration is overstepping its authority.
Rayfield criticized the deployment, stating, What we’re seeing is not about public safety; it’s about the president flexing political muscle under the guise of law and order, chasing a media hit at the expense of our community.
The memo also mentioned the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles last June, underscoring the perception of intensified federal military action in response to civil unrest. While the memo did not specifically label Portland as the target, Trump asserted on social media that he directed the Pentagon, under the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, to send troops to protect Portland from what he called domestic terrorists.
Unlike the extensive deployment associated with Los Angeles, this operation does not currently include active-duty troops, although Trump has suggested such actions in other regions, including Chicago.
