WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of U.S. troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising the use of “full force” if required to suppress protests outside immigration detention facilities.
Trump declared on Truth Social that he had instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide “all necessary troops” to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites “under siege from Antifa and domestic terrorists.” He added that the military had authority to act with “full force, if necessary.”
The announcement sparked strong criticism from Democrats. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said there was no security crisis: “Our communities are safe and calm.” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson added that “the number of necessary troops is zero.” Senator Ron Wyden warned residents not to be provoked into violence.
The Department of Homeland Security claims protesters attacked ICE facilities and threatened personnel, while federal prosecutors charged 26 individuals with crimes including arson and assault. DHS further accused Rose City Antifa of doxing ICE officers.
Legal experts argue that designating Antifa as a “domestic terror group” has no legal basis and could violate constitutional protections. Meanwhile, some Republicans defended Trump. Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer praised the move, calling Portland a “crime-ridden war zone.”
Trump’s order expands his controversial use of federal forces, echoing deployments during George Floyd protests. The legality of such actions remains in doubt under U.S. law, raising fears of another constitutional clash.
