US president Donald Trump has authorised the deployment of American troops to Portland, Oregon, citing concerns over unrest and threats to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. He instructed defence secretary Pete Hegseth to take action and warned that “full force” could be used if necessary to protect federal installations from Antifa and other domestic groups.
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The decision follows an attack on an ICE field office in Dallas, which left one detainee dead and two injured. Portland’s ICE facility has faced repeated protests since June, occasionally escalating into violent clashes, prompting the Department of Homeland Security to describe the city’s demonstrations as “sieges” and report multiple arrests. Trump labelled the situation “anarchy” and claimed that the city had become unsafe for residents.
Oregon governor Tina Kotek and Portland mayor Keith Wilson criticised the move, emphasising that no national security threat currently exists and that local communities remain safe. Wilson stated that “the number of necessary troops is zero” for Portland or any other American city. Meanwhile, Republican officials, including former Oregon representative and current labour secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, praised the deployment, describing the city as a “crime-ridden war zone” and expressing support for Trump’s actions to safeguard federal facilities.
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The deployment forms part of a broader pattern during Trump’s second presidency, which has seen troops sent to other Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles and Washington DC, with discussions ongoing about similar actions in Memphis and New Orleans. The move has sparked fresh debate over the use of federal forces in domestic cities and the balance between public order and civil liberties.
