Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the National Guard has been deployed to Oregon to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing what he described as worsening conditions in the state.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said protests in Portland have hindered the enforcement of immigration law and led to violence against federal officers.
“As I determined on September 27th, when I activated and called into service the National Guard in Oregon, conditions continue to deteriorate into lawless mayhem,” Trump wrote. “Our GREAT Federal Law Enforcement Officers have not been able to enforce the Laws in Oregon. ANTIFA and the Radical Left Anarchists have been viciously attacking our Federal Law Enforcement Officers, men and women who are simply doing their job, protecting Federal Property, and enforcing Federal Immigration Laws and the Rule of Law.”
He added: “We will never allow MOBS to take over our streets, burn our Cities, or destroy America. The National Guard is now in place, and has been dedicated to restoring LAW AND ORDER, and ending the Chaos, Death, and Destruction! We are a Nation of LAW, and we will PREVAIL.”
Demonstrations outside an ICE building in Portland have continued since June, drawing opposition to Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. On Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed an order nationalizing 200 Oregon National Guard members for 60 days, citing “credible threats of violence” at the facility.
Local leaders have pushed back. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek told the White House the deployment was “unlawful and unwarranted,” according to reports. Trump recounted a recent call with Kotek during a speech to senior military leaders, dismissing her assurances that Oregon authorities had the situation under control.
“Portland, Oregon, where it looks like a war zone. And I get a call from the liberal governor, ‘Sir, please don’t come in. We don’t need you,’” Trump said. “I said, ‘Well, unless they’re playing false tapes, this looks like World War II. Your place is burning down.’”
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a motion Monday seeking a temporary restraining order to block the federal deployment in Portland. A hearing is scheduled for Friday.