Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Sending National Guard Troops to Oregon

Federal Judge Halts Deployment Efforts

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from sending any National Guard troops to Oregon, pausing what had become a fast-moving legal battle over federal authority and state sovereignty. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued the late Sunday ruling after holding an emergency hearing following the administration’s attempt to deploy troops from California and Texas to Portland.

Immergut, who was appointed during Trump’s first term, had already blocked the administration from mobilizing Oregon’s own National Guard the previous day. She said the new plan to send troops from other states appeared to “directly contravene” that earlier order.

Protests Continue in Portland

Portland has seen small but persistent protests outside the city’s immigration processing center since January, with tensions rising after the federal government began mobilizing troops in late September. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek opposed the deployment, calling it unnecessary and an overreach of executive authority.

When news of the judge’s order broke, demonstrators outside the facility cheered, seeing it as a temporary reprieve from what many viewed as federal overreach into state affairs.

Legal and Political Fallout

The ruling came after California and Oregon filed for emergency relief, arguing the deployment violated state sovereignty and exceeded the president’s powers. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the federal action “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power,” vowing to continue legal challenges. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, defended his decision to send troops, saying they were needed to “protect federal employees.”

Oregon Attorney General Rob Bonta said the move was far beyond “the norms or practices of any president,” describing the court’s decision as a “rebuke” to the administration’s attempts to expand control.

Immergut’s order will remain in effect pending further arguments. The White House has not yet commented on the ruling.