WASHINGTON (RTWNews) — A memo from the Defense Department has revealed that two hundred members of the Oregon National Guard will be placed under federal control and mobilized to protect immigration enforcement officers and government facilities. The announcement was made public on Sunday, prompting immediate backlash from state leaders.
This deployment mirrors a similar action taken last summer in Los Angeles but is significantly smaller in scale. The state leaders have strongly opposed this move, insisting that Oregon is not a battleground for military operations.
The state's governor, Tina Kotek, voiced her disapproval in a conversation with President Trump, stating, “Oregon is our home — not a military target.” Additionally, Dan Rayfield, Oregon's attorney general, has announced plans to file a federal lawsuit arguing that Trump's actions constitute an overreach of authority.
“What we’re seeing is not about public safety,” Rayfield asserted. “It’s about the president flexing political muscle under the guise of law and order.”
The memo indicated that the deployment furthers the President’s directions; however, no specific locations were cited, although Trump indicated on social media that he directed the military to protect ICE facilities in Portland and labeled protesters as domestic terrorists.
While comparison is drawn to the deployment of military personnel in Los Angeles, it's worth noting that there are currently no plans to send active-duty troops to Oregon. Prior interventions have seen more extensive troop deployments, such as in Washington, D.C., which has seen over 1,000 National Guard troops deployed in response to protests.
