Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Deployment of National Guard to Oregon
In a significant legal rebuke to the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order on October 5, 2025, halting the deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon.
The ruling came after the administration attempted to circumvent a previous court order by redeploying federalized California National Guard members to Portland.
Judge Immergut emphasized that the protests in Portland were neither a “rebellion” nor posed a threat of insurrection, thereby invalidating the legal basis for such federal intervention.
The controversy began when the Trump administration sought to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, citing unrest surrounding a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
However, local and state officials, including Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and California Governor Gavin Newsom, contested the deployment, arguing it was an overreach of federal authority and an infringement on state sovereignty.
In response to the initial court order blocking the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops, the administration redirected approximately 200 federalized California National Guard members to Portland.
This move was swiftly challenged in court, leading to Judge Immergut’s expanded restraining order, which now prohibits the deployment of National Guard units from any state to Oregon.
Governor Newsom condemned the administration’s actions as a “breathtaking abuse of power,” asserting that the federal government was attempting to bypass judicial authority for political gain.
Similarly, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield criticized the deployment as an unlawful attempt to normalize the use of military force in civilian affairs.
The legal battle underscores the ongoing tension between federal and state governments over the use of National Guard troops in domestic law enforcement.
While the Trump administration maintains that such deployments are necessary to protect federal property and enforce immigration laws, opponents argue that they violate constitutional principles and exacerbate political divisions.
As the case progresses, it raises critical questions about the balance of power between state and federal authorities and the appropriate role of military forces in domestic governance.
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