Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising use of “full force” if needed, to suppress protests targeting immigration detention centres.
The US president claimed the move would help protect “any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists”, characterising the city as “War ravaged” in a Truth Social post.
The announcement marks a further expansion of troop deployments in US cities, amid a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal immigration.
The latest move has drawn pushback from Democratic lawmakers, who said there was no need for federal troops to be deployed to Portland.
“There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm,” said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. Kotek told a news conference on Saturday that “any deployment would be an abuse of power”, and said she was working with Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield “to see if any response is necessary”.
“We will be prepared to respond if we have to,” she added.
Trump’s post does not specify whether he intends to activate national guard or regular US military – nor what is meant by the use of “full force”.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland has been targeted by protesters since early June, sometimes leading to violent clashes.
Credit: bbc.com
