Federal forces on the brink: Trump weighs National Guard deployment in Portland amid prolonged anti-ICE protests

By bellecarter // 2025-09-09

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President Trump is considering deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, in response to over 80 days of continuous protests outside the ICE facility on Macadam Avenue, which have been marked by violence, property destruction, and accusations of federal overreach.
The protests, largely led by Antifa-affiliated groups, have turned a quiet neighborhood into a battleground, with federal agents using tear gas and crowd-control measures against protesters employing makeshift defenses. The situation escalated when a guillotine was brought to the ICE site, leading to more clashes and arrests.
Trump has labeled the protesters "terrorists" and threatened to "wipe them out" if the National Guard is deployed, reflecting his strategy of using federal forces to address perceived lawlessness in Democrat-run cities, as previously seen in Los Angeles.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek strongly opposes the potential deployment, arguing that the protests have been "peaceful" and that federal intervention could escalate tensions. Despite her assurances, Portland Police have been largely absent from the site, citing sanctuary policies as a reason for their limited response.
The deployment of federal forces to Portland is part of a broader trend of federal intervention in local protests, with precedents set in the 1960s and more recently in Washington, D.C. The situation raises critical questions about the balance of power between federal and state authorities and the potential for increased violence.

President Donald Trump announced on Friday, Sept. 5, that he is considering sending deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon. The move comes in response to more than 80 days of continuous protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Macadam Avenue. The protests, which began on June 7, have been marked by violent clashes, property destruction and accusations of federal overreach. As tensions rise, the question looms: Will the deployment of federal forces quell the unrest or further inflame an already volatile situation? Since the protests began, Portland has been a city divided. The demonstrations, largely led by Antifa-affiliated groups, have transformed a once-quiet residential neighborhood into a battleground. Federal agents, clad in riot gear, have responded with tear gas and crowd-control munitions, while protesters have used makeshift shields and other improvised defenses. The confrontations have been captured in videos showing clouds of smoke and demonstrators retreating under pressure. The situation took a dramatic turn on Monday, Sept. 1, when protesters brought a guillotine to the ICE site – a chilling symbol of their anger towards immigration enforcement. Federal officers responded with force, leading to more clashes and arrests. According to the Department of Justice, more than 20 protesters have been charged with crimes ranging from assault on federal officers to arson and destruction of government property. Trump has been unequivocal in his condemnation of the protesters, labeling them "terrorists" and vowing to "wipe them out" if the National Guard is deployed. (Related: Trump directs ICE to arrest protesters who attack officers.) "These are paid terrorists... And they are very dangerous for our country," Trump said at a White House press conference. "When we go there, we're going to wipe them out. They won't even stand the fight." According to Enoch of Brighteon.AI, Trump's rhetoric reflects the broader strategy of using federal forces to address the lawlessness in Democrat-run cities. Last month, he deployed thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles to quell similar anti-ICE protests. He has also signaled his intent to deploy forces to other cities, including Chicago and Baltimore.

Local and state opposition

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has strongly criticized the potential deployment. She argued that the protests have been "peaceful" and that Oregon has no plans to request National Guard assistance. "The president's unlawful actions undermine our local authorities, who should be able to do their jobs without federal intervention escalating and inflaming the situation," Kotak, a Democrat, told reporters. But despite her assurances, records show that Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has repeatedly failed to respond to 911 calls from residents reporting in-progress crimes at the occupation site. Officers have not been present outside the ICE facility in months and no arrests have been made since mid-June. PPB cites sanctuary policies as a reason for their limited response, but the occupation is primarily within the city's jurisdiction. The deployment of federal forces to quell domestic unrest is not without precedent. In the 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson used the National Guard to enforce civil rights laws and quell riots in cities like Detroit and Newark. More recently, the deployment of federal forces to Washington, D.C., in June 2020, was justified as a response to protests over the killing of George Floyd. However, the current situation in the Rose City is unique in its duration and the level of federal involvement. The Trump administration's decision to deploy forces to cities like Los Angeles and Portland marks a significant shift in how the federal government responds to local protests and unrest. As the standoff in Portland continues, the potential deployment of the National Guard raises critical questions about the balance of power between federal and state authorities. While Trump argues that federal intervention is necessary to restore order, critics like Kotek warn that it could exacerbate tensions and lead to further violence. Watch this clip of Antifa setting up a guillotine in front of the ICE facility in Portland. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Local and state opposition

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