President Trump has opened up the possibility of deploying National Guard troops to Portland in response to rising feuds with protesters.
Among several other states in the U.S., Oregon is a Sanctuary state. The State of Oregon prohibits state or local law enforcement from participating in immigration enforcement. Under sanctuary law, Portland police and city officials are prohibited from cooperating with or endorsing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. While this does not prevent ICE from deporting or convicting immigrants in Sanctuary states, it does make it significantly harder to do so.
In a press briefing on September 5, 2025, Trump threatened Portland, along with Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, and Baltimore, as their next destinations. Previously, Trump had already quarrelled with Portland, expressing concern over the homelessness crisis and their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. The press briefing described various assorted topics, such as raising tariffs on out-of-country goods, renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, the tension in Venezuela, and the possible deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities.
“If we go to Portland, we’re going to wipe them out. They’re going to be gone,” Trump remarks. “It’s like living in Hell.”
Rising stress among protesters has tempted Trump to evaluate this decision. Protests outside the ICE facility in Southwest Portland have been going on since June 2025, after Trump began his mass deportation raids. Anti-ICE protest groups have always been a part of Portland. The Occupy ICE movement began in June 2018 in response to Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy made during his first term. Since then, the protest group has grown in resurgence in response to Trump’s second term of his presidency. The ICE facility in Portland has been vandalized with vulgar graffiti by protesters, as well as conflicts with the Portland Police, and flammable material being lit on the property. At least 30 people have been confirmed to be arrested during these protests.
This wouldn’t be Portland’s first encounter with the National Guard if Trump involves them within the city. In 2020, troops were installed to help quell George Floyd protests fighting to end racial injustice. While no protests outside the ICE facility have threatened human life, the possibility of military involvement is inevitable. Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., have been the most recent cities to have military involvement during his presidency. Having National Guard troops stationed on the streets has resulted in a lot of citizen pushback. National Guard troops in these cities have been found abusing their power by using tear gas, rubber bullets, or force to abuse protesters.
In a Fox News broadcast over Labor Day weekend, Fox reported protesters were “wreaking havoc” outside of the ICE detention center. Spliced within real footage were clips of protests from 2020, made to intentionally mislead viewers. Footage included police using tear gas to control a crowd, the burning of property, and protesters forcibly assaulting military officers.
Federal judges have been raising questions about the constitutionality of Trump’s decisions. City leaders of Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles are challenging the legality of Trump’s use of the National Guard to protect citizens. Officials claim Trump’s use of military force violates the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and is therefore unconstitutional. The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the U.S. military as local law enforcement. Specifically, Trump’s use of the National Guard has been questioned by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who expressed his disbelief over the takeover. The State of California has since won a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for neglecting this law.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson issued a statement later that day in response to Trump’s ultimatum. “We are proud that Portland police have successfully protected the freedom of expression while addressing occasional violence and property destruction that takes place during protests at the ICE facility in Portland.”
As of September 17, the City of Portland has issued a land use violation notice to the ICE facility. According to Portland.gov, “Federal government records from a 10-month period show more than two-dozen detention policy violations of the facility’s land use conditions of approval with the city, which does not allow detainees to be kept overnight or held for more than 12 hours.”
Since then, Trump has furthered his pressure on Portland. In a press briefing on September 19, Trump mentioned Portland during a discussion on antifa (anti-fascist) related groups. Simultaneously, Trump signed an executive order to identify antifa as a ‘major terrorist organization’. “It’s just people out of control and crazy,” Trump rebuked, in reference to antifa committees and ICE protests in Portland. “We’re going to stop that very soon.”
The City of Portland has reiterated that it will continue to prioritize citizens and provide care to those who have been impacted.
