Judge blocks deployment of California National Guard – or any other national guard – to Portland

The federal government cannot deploy national guard troops to Portland from California - or anywhere else - a federal judge ruled Sunday night, capping a week of legal tug-of-war between Oregon leaders and President Donald Trump and his administration.

The saga began when Trump announced on social media Sept. 27 that he would "provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland." The State of Oregon and City of Portland filed a lawsuit to block deployment of the Oregon National Guard, arguing that Portland was peaceful and did not need military intervention.

Both sides argued their cases Friday before U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, who ruled Saturday to block the deployment until at least Oct. 18. She cited "substantial evidence that the protests at the Portland ICE facility were not significantly violent or disruptive in the days - or even weeks - leading up to the President's directive."

Within 24 hours, the Trump administration sent California National Guard troops to Portland, provoking a swift legal response. The State of California joined the case, and the petitioners requested an additional restraining order to remove the out-of-state troops.

Immergut convened a hearing hours later, and verbally ruled that that the freeze on national guard troops also applies to California. Meanwhile, Oregon leaders learned of plans to deploy Texas National Guard members to Portland.

"The court affirmed what common sense tells us: If Portland does not need federal troops from Oregon, then we do not need federal troops from California - or anywhere else," Mayor Keith Wilson said Sunday night. "Our local police officers are focused on protecting Portlanders' right to protest peacefully and keeping our community safe. Federal troops will not make our community safer, period."

Over the past week, Wilson has been in lockstep with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who led the legal action. The trio hosted press conferences together as national interest escalated.

At the heart of the case is one block in South Portland, surrounding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

The site has attracted nightly protests since June. The Portland Police Bureau has used "dialogue liaison officers" to work with protest organizers; officers make arrests when criminal behavior takes place.

For updates, go to Portland.gov/Federal