US judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deploying national guard in Portland

US judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deploying national guard in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration's deployment of 200 National Guard troops to Portland. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted Oregon's motion to halt the deployment while the case plays out in court.

The ruling comes after a hearing on Friday morning, where Immergut asked questions of both sides and allowed each to present its case. Immergut was assigned to the case Thursday evening after U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon recused himself due to potential conflicts of interest. Simon's wife, Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, has publicly expressed opposition to the National Guard deployment.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed the federal lawsuit against the Trump administration in late September, contending that the National Guard mission breaches limits of federal authority in local law enforcement . The lawsuit follows a court ruling against similar troop deployments in Los Angeles.

The Trump administration had authorized the deployment of the National Guard to protect ICE facilities from attacks by "Antifa and other domestic terrorists," according to a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. However, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek refuted these claims, stating that there is no insurrection or threat to public safety necessitating military intervention in Portland or any other city in the state .

The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the Trump administration and the state of Oregon over the deployment of National Guard troops. The case is still ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming days.