Oregon Judge Blocks National Guard Deployment Amid Controversy Over Protest Violence

Mon Nov 03 2025 13:20:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge in Oregon has ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to deploy the National Guard to Portland, stating there is no credible evidence of escalating violence in protests. The ruling caps a tumultuous legal back-and-forth regarding federal troop involvement in local protests across the U.S.

In a significant legal decision, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut has prevented the deployment of the National Guard in Portland until at least Friday, citing a lack of credible evidence for the federalization based on protest violence claims. The ongoing dispute reflects broader tensions regarding federal military involvement in American cities amidst protests. Oregon officials argue the administration failed to demonstrate that local law enforcement could not handle the protests, while the Trump administration contends the troops are necessary to maintain order.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon on Sunday barred President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon until at least Friday, stating she “found no credible evidence” that protests in the city grew out of control prior to the president federalizing the troops earlier this fall.

The city and state filed a lawsuit in September to block the deployment, marking the latest chapter in a series of legal battles regarding federal troop involvement in cities like Portland and Chicago, which the Trump administration claims is necessary to quell protests.

The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, came after a three-day trial examining whether the protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland justified the military’s deployment under federal law.

In her 16-page ruling, Immergut noted that many of the alleged violent incidents seemed to occur between protesters and counter-protesters, finding no significant property damage at the immigration facility that would justify military intervention.

“Based on the trial testimony, this Court finds no credible evidence that during the approximately two months before the President’s federalization order, protests grew out of control or involved more than isolated and sporadic instances of violent conduct that resulted in no serious injuries to federal personnel,” she wrote.

This decision follows weeks of legal complexities as Democratic-led cities sought to challenge the administration's decisions, arguing that it failed to meet the legal requirements for deploying troops and violated their sovereignty.

Immergut previously issued two orders in October blocking troop deployments, criticizing Trump’s characterization of Portland as a lawless environment as “untethered to the facts.”

During the trial, local police and federal officials were questioned about their responses to protests, which peaked in June. Witnesses indicated that while the protests had escalated, Portland law enforcement had not sought additional military support and were successfully managing the situation.

Oregon Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Kennedy noted that the incidents, while not condoned, did not indicate a rebellion or an inability to enforce the law, suggesting local authorities could maintain order without federal troop support.