Oregon Leaders Push Back Against Federal Help to Protect Portland
Portland, Oregon – Oregon’s Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, announced a lawsuit Sunday to stop President Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops to Portland.
This announcement came shortly after Governor Tina Kotek received a memo from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who authorized the troop deployment for 60 days. These troops, under federal control, would be stationed in Portland to safeguard federal property “where protests are occurring or likely to occur.”
Governor Kotek, Mayor Keith Wilson, and Attorney General Rayfield, all Democrats, jointly filed the lawsuit in federal court. They argue that the administration’s action is “unlawful” and unnecessary.
Rayfield stated that Oregon communities are stable and local officials can handle public safety without federal help.
President Trump posted on social media that he had directed Secretary Hegseth to send “all necessary Troops to protect war-ravaged Portland, and any other ICE facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”
Governor Kotek said she spoke with the President and urged him not to send troops.
“Our city is a far cry from the war-ravaged community he has posted on social media,” Kotek told reporters. “There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.”
Despite these objections, federal agents have started arriving in Portland. Mayor Wilson criticized the arrival of National Guard troops, stating, “We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose.”
Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, advised demonstrators to avoid confrontations with federal agents. “Their goal is to create an engagement that will lead to conflict,” he said.
This lawsuit follows a similar one filed by California in June after the administration sent troops to Los Angeles.
Rayfield stated, “This will only serve to divide us as a nation and community under the guise of caring about public safety. The number of necessary troops is zero.”
A Department of War spokesperson stated that they do not comment on active litigation and have no comment on the Oregon National Guard deployment.
