US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he was sending troops to Portland, Oregon, to “protect” federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from so-called “domestic terrorists.” He said the military was authorized to use all necessary force.
Trump Orders Troops to Portland and ICE Facilities
In a social media post, Trump clarified that he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy “whatever troops are needed to protect Portland and Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from attacks by Antifa and other radicals.”
Mayor Keith Wilson responded sharply, stating, “No troops are needed here—not in Portland, not in any other American city. The President will not face chaos here unless he creates it.”
At a press conference, Wilson emphasized that federal forces were being deployed without the city’s request, calling it “theater” rather than a genuine necessity. Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden wrote that Trump is “trying to repeat the 2020 scenario and provoke conflict for political gain.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also demanded an explanation from the White House: “There is no national security threat here. The city is calm.”
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the military’s readiness to support Interior Ministry operations at the president’s order, but did not specify whether this involved the National Guard or the regular army.
ICE spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News that agents need protection amid protests against immigration raids: “We will not tolerate this. The administration is serious.”
In recent weeks, protests against Trump’s policies have taken place in a number of major cities. In a Chicago suburb, ICE police used tear gas and non-lethal ammunition to disperse a rally outside an immigration detention center. Protests also took place in Portland.
Trump continues to rely on rhetoric about fighting crime and the Antifa movement, even though official data does not confirm any terrorist attacks on his part. Opponents believe the president is deliberately playing the “enemy within” card to justify harsh measures and intensify his campaign of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
ICE Raids and Violence
Complaints of brutality against migrants and their families by ICE immigration officers have increased in New York, Chicago, and Boston.
A high-profile incident occurred in a New York courthouse: a police officer wrestled a woman to the floor who was attempting to prevent her acquaintance from being arrested. The video was quickly shared by ProPublica. The woman, who was seeking asylum in the United States, was injured. Following the intervention of the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE agent involved in the arrest was suspended.
