The Pentagon announced on October 5 that the troops would assist the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and other federal personnel in official duties, including law enforcement and the protection of federal property.
Late on October 4, a federal judge had issued a ruling blocking Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, citing insufficient evidence that recent protests in the city justified such an operation. Trump’s decision to instead mobilize troops from California effectively sidestepped the ruling.
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the move, calling it “a blatant abuse of power and the law.” Later that evening, California joined Oregon’s federal lawsuit seeking to block the deployment of National Guard units from both states.
Officials in Portland accused Trump of exaggerating the threat posed by immigration protests, saying his administration was using the demonstrations as a pretext for political showmanship.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the president’s decision, stating that Trump was exercising his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel after “riots and violent assaults on law enforcement.” Jackson rebuked Newsom, saying he should “stand with law-abiding citizens, not with violent criminals destroying Portland and other cities.”
Under U.S. law, National Guard units are controlled by state governors unless they are federalized — transferred to national command under the President. Although a September 2 federal court ruling had blocked Trump from using National Guard troops in California for anti-crime operations, that decision was temporarily stayed pending appeal, allowing the administration to redirect the California contingent to Oregon.
Portland has become the latest target in Trump’s ongoing “law and order” campaign aimed at curbing crime and illegal immigration. Just one day earlier, Trump authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago to combat what he called “out-of-control crime.”