President Donald Trump has announced his intention to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, to safeguard ICE facilities from attacks by Antifa and domestic terrorists amid escalating anti-ICE protests. In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide all necessary troops to protect War ravaged Portland and any ICE Facilities under siege. The President also authorized the use of ‘Full Force’ if necessary.
The announcement comes as tensions in Portland have been rising since June, when the city’s officials issued a land use violation notice against an ICE facility. The notice challenged the legality of how long detainees could be held there, in addition to another violation for boarded-up windows. Anti-ICE graffiti has been scrawled on the exterior of the building, while the demonstrations have turned violent at times with protesters clashing against federal agents. Authorities have responded to such incidents by deploying rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bangs to disperse the crowds.
In August, protesters were caught on camera displaying a guillotine, indicating a strong anti-government sentiment, and clashing with police before law enforcement fired munitions to drive the crowd away. Portland, a sanctuary city since 2017, has long been a focal point of Trump’s immigration efforts, with its residents generally not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. The city’s stance has made it a flash point in Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration, including the deployment of troops into Los Angeles during anti-ICE protests in June and clashes with New Jersey Democrats outside Delaney Hall in Newark in May.
Attorney General Pam Bondi recently issued a letter to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, warning that the city’s sanctuary policies impede federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of U.S. interests. The letter asked the city to affirm its commitment to complying with federal law. In response, Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor stated that the city is following the law. As the situation in Portland continues to escalate, the broader implications of this deployment could have significant impact on the nation’s immigration policy and local political dynamics.