Court Denial and Controversial Deployment
The movement conveniently avoids a judge's order blocking the National Guard from being deployed to Portland because they were moved from Los Angeles, where they were deployed after protests last summer. Pentagon officials confirmed 200 California National Guard members are being deployed to Portland to assist the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies in performing official duties.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Trump acted using his legal obligation to defend federal property and personnel in Portland due to what she called "violent riots and attacks on law enforcement." She further stated that Newsom was interfering and the governor should be asking the federal law enforcement community to "stand with law-abiding citizens instead of violent criminals destroying city after city across this country."
Still, Newsom condemned the deployment and said the president is using the military for political reasons. "This is not about public safety, it's about power," the governor said. "This is ignoring a judicial ruling and undermining our democracy." Newsom also said he would "sue to block that," and called for the public to "not tolerate reckless, immoral, authoritarian behaviour."
Troops have already been transported, and a wider crackdown
The members of the California National Guard who are being sent to Portland were originally deployed back in June to Los Angeles due to the protests surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement power, and Trump claimed that their presence "saved the city from burning to the ground," while Newsom said it was a useless mission that caused further problems.
This troop deployment comes amid an escalation of federal crackdowns in Democratic-led cities amid continuing unrest, protests, and counter-mayhem against ICE. Trump has periodically vilified Portland for allegedly harbouring far-left activists associated with Antifa, which he has identified as a domestic terrorist organization by Executive order.
Shortly before sending the troops to Portland, Trump approved 300 National Guard troops in Chicago due to crime. Chicago has seen recent unrest, protests, and counter-mayhem fits of anger against ICE. Over the weekend, things escalated to violence as a group of immigration officers opened fire on an armed woman who allegedly crashed her car into police officers. It's unclear how she is doing after bringing herself to the hospital.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker took a stance against the deployment of the National Guard and condemned the administration's narrative on a crisis. "The presence of troops would only inflame the protests, making it a 'war zone." The governor further said, "They want to create mayhem on the ground so they can justify sending in even more troops.
