Federal Judge Blocks National Guard Deployment to Oregon
A federal judge has stepped in to halt the Trump administration’s plans to send National Guard troops to Oregon. This decision came late Sunday evening.
Appointed by President Trump, US District Judge Karin Imargat has temporarily restrained the actions of the administration regarding troop deployment, covering both Oregon and California, including the city of Portland.
Just the day before, Immergut sided with Oregon officials, granting them a restraining order that directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses to send Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.
In response to this initial order, Trump sought to deploy California State Guard troops to Portland, which drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
In a press release, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta celebrated Imargat’s ruling. “The rule of law is widening. This ruling isn’t just a legal win; it’s a win for American democracy,” Newsom remarked. He added that Trump should not use soldiers for political ends, emphasizing that the law has clearly stated “No.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also reported that Trump had ordered Texas State Guard troops to intervene in Oregon. However, Immergut’s order effectively stops the deployment of troops from all states and Washington, D.C., to Portland.
Last month, Trump had instructed Hegses to send Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, asserting that the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities were under severe threat from groups he characterized as “domestic terrorists” like ANTIFA.
In a unified response, Kotek, along with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, filed for injunctions to challenge the deployment.
Kotek criticized the president’s actions as an “abuse of power” aimed at exploiting community and service members.
Earlier, in a video shared on social media, Rayfield expressed hope that the administration would appeal Immergut’s ruling.
The temporary restraining order is set to expire on October 19, according to the court decision issued on Sunday.
Updated at 8:07am
