A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from deploying California National Guard troops to Portland, marking a legal setback for the administration’s plans to intervene in protests in Oregon.
U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a restraining order Friday halting the deployment of California National Guard members and any out-of-state troops to Portland. The judge ruled that the deployment violates federal law and the constitutional rights of the states involved. The court cited federal statute 10 U.S.C. §12406 and the Tenth Amendment in determining that the President’s actions overstepped legal authority.
The lawsuit was jointly filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Oregon officials, who argued that the deployment was unconstitutional and unnecessary. Governor Newsom praised the ruling, calling it a “victory against the Trump administration’s abuse of power” and reaffirming his commitment to protecting state sovereignty.
The Trump administration, which ordered the National Guard deployment to quell ongoing protests in Portland, has stated it plans to appeal the ruling. Officials argued that the President retains authority to deploy forces to support law enforcement in maintaining order amid civil unrest.
This ruling follows previous judicial decisions blocking similar troop movements by the administration within Oregon. Judge Immergut emphasized that adequate justification for such federal involvement was lacking at this time and highlighted the importance of respecting state control over their National Guard forces.
The legal battle continues as tensions remain high in Portland, where protests have persisted for months over various social and political issues.