The state of Oregon has initiated a legal challenge on Sunday to prevent President Donald Trump’s decision to send 200 National Guard members to Portland.
The lawsuit was unveiled by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield shortly after Governor Tina Kotek received a memo from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, which sanctioned the troop deployment for a duration of 60 days.
Per the order reviewed by Fox News Digital, the federally controlled Oregon National Guard is set to be stationed in Portland to safeguard federal properties where “protests are currently taking place or are anticipated.”
Kotek, along with Portland’s Mayor Keith Wilson and Rayfield—who are all Democrats—jointly filed the legal action in federal court, contending that the administration’s intervention is both “illegal” and unwarranted.
“Communities in Oregon are secure, and our local leaders are unified in stating that we can manage public safety without federal intervention,” Rayfield declared in a statement.
On Saturday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he instructed Hegseth to deploy “all necessary Troops to protect the war-affected Portland, alongside any other ICE facilities being attacked by Antifa and other domestic radicals.”
Kotek also mentioned that she had directly communicated with the president prior to Sunday’s order, urging him against deploying troops.
Kotek remarked to reporters gathered at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, “Our city is far from the war-torn area he erroneously depicted on social media.”
She continued, “There is no insurrection, no threat to national security, and no need for military presence in our major city.”
In contrast to local government sentiments, federal agents entered Portland over the weekend, leading to confrontations outside an ICE facility.
Mayor Wilson criticized the introduction of National Guard troops.
“Their arrival was unsolicited. They are present without reason or mandate,” he stated.
Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., advised demonstrators to steer clear of conflicts with federal agents, noting, “Their intent is to provoke engagement that could escalate into conflict.”
This lawsuit mirrors a similar case initiated by California back in June when troops were dispatched to Los Angeles.
“This only serves to further divide us as a nation and community, all under the pretense of being concerned about public safety,” Rayfield remarked. “The required number of troops is absolutely zero.”
“As a standard policy, the Department does not engage in discussions about ongoing litigation. We have no comment on this matter or the deployment of the Oregon ARNG at this moment,” a spokesperson for the Department of War informed Fox News Digital.
