Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to challenge this decision in court.
There was no formal announcement from Washington about the California National Guard’s deployment to Oregon, similar to the situation when Illinois’ governor mentioned the activation of troops in his state on Saturday.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said that 101 California National Guard members arrived in her state on Saturday night by plane and more are on the way.
Kotek said there has been no formal communication with the federal government about the deployment.
“This action appears to intentional to circumvent yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge,” Kotek said.
“Military intervention is unnecessary in Oregon. Portland is not experiencing an insurrection or posing a national security threat. Oregon is our home, not a military target.”
A representative for Kotek stated he couldn’t confirm the current whereabouts of the National Guard members who arrived in Oregon on Saturday and referred inquiries to the Defence Department.
The California National Guard also referred questions to the Defence Department.
A department spokesperson declined to comment. There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Newsom, a Democrat, expressed in a statement that California personnel were en route, condemning the move as “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power”.
He said these troops were “federalised” and put under the president’s control months ago over his objections, in response to unrest in Los Angeles.
“The commander-in-chief is using the US military as a political weapon against American citizens,” Newsom said in the statement.
“We will pursue this in court, but the public must not remain silent against such reckless and authoritarian acts by the president of the United States.”
A Trump-appointed federal judge in Oregon on Saturday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to deploy the Oregon National Guard in Portland to protect federal property amid protests after Trump called the city “war-ravaged”.
Oregon officials and Portland residents alike said that description was ludicrous.
US District Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, issued the order pending further arguments in the suit.
She said the relatively small protests the city has seen did not justify the use of federalised forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregon’s state sovereignty.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said Sunday that the city continues to seek legal means to halt any National Guard deployment.
“This action circumvents the court’s decision and threatens to inflame a community that has remained peaceful,” Wilson said.
“Our legal team is coordinating with our partners and will immediately pursue all lawful steps to enforce the judge’s order and protect Portlanders’ rights.”
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland has recently been the site of nightly protests.
Trump has characterised both Portland and Chicago as cities rife with crime and unrest, calling the former a “war zone” and suggesting apocalyptic force was needed to quell problems in the latter.
Since the start of his second term, he has sent or talked about sending troops to 10 cities.
Trump authorised the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago on Saturday.
