Oregon officials are heading to federal court to contest the Trump administration’s authority to deploy up to 200 federalized National Guard members in Portland.

President Trump has described Portland as “war ravaged” and suggested that troops would be authorized to use “full force,” although it remains unclear what that entails, to tackle what he terms domestic terrorists. Meanwhile, local leaders assert that protests at a Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility have been mostly peaceful in the Democrat-led city.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield argues that the law stipulates the president cannot deploy troops without meeting conditions such as an invasion or rebellion. Along with the lawsuit filed with Portland, Oregon authorities will seek a temporary restraining order from a judge against the White House, according to Rayfield.

“Portland’s police department is functioning effectively, alongside the county sheriff’s office and our state police. We have an operational district attorney in Oregon,” Rayfield stated on “Prime” Sunday. “There is simply no justification for the U.S. military to act against its citizens or to take over parts of our city.”

In Portland, tense encounters between feds, protesters

Correspondent Jorge Ventura, reporting from Portland’s ICE facility, noted that protests have been relatively peaceful over the weekend. However, he observed a standoff between the crowd and Border Patrol and Homeland Security agents assisting an official vehicle, during which authorities fired pepper balls.

Rayfield said demonstrators who do not protest peacefully will be held accountable by local authorities.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday ordered 200 Oregon National Guard troops to be deployed under federal authority.

Instead of sending military forces, Rayfield suggested the Trump administration should consider federal law-enforcement assistance if the president perceives a crime issue in Portland.

Violent crime in Portland has dropped in the first six months of 2025, according to preliminary data released by the Major Cities Chiefs Association in its Midyear Violent Crime Report. Homicides fell by 51% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to these statistics.