Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising use of 'full force' if needed, to suppress protests targeting immigration detention centres.
The US president claimed the move would help protect 'any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists', characterising the city as 'war-ravaged' in a Truth Social post.
This announcement marks a further expansion of troop deployments in US cities, amid a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal immigration.
The latest move has drawn pushback from Democratic lawmakers, who argued that there was no need for federal troops to be deployed to Portland.
There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm, said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
Governor Kotek condemned the deployment, calling it an 'abuse of power', and mentioned that she is working with the Oregon Attorney General to assess the situation and potential responses.
Trump's rhetoric does not clarify whether he is activating the National Guard or regular military forces. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the military is prepared to mobilize in support of the Department of Homeland Security operations in Portland.
Protests have been escalating since early June at the ICE facility in Portland, leading to violent confrontations at times. The US Attorney's Office has filed federal charges against several individuals involved in these protests.
In response, some Republican officials have shown support for Trump's actions, citing a perceived increase in lawlessness in Portland. Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stated that she had witnessed how unrest had transformed Portland into a 'crime-ridden warzone.'
As the situation continues to evolve, the local and national implications of deploying federal troops remain a pivotal topic of debate in American society.
