UPDATE: A federal judge has permanently blocked the deployment of the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, ruling that former President Donald Trump exceeded his authority. This urgent decision comes after a three-day trial concluded last week, where Judge Karin Immergut found that the deployment was not legally justified and was objected to by local officials.
The ruling, issued on October 25, 2025, stated that the evidence showed the federalized troops were sent without a lawful basis, contradicting arguments from the Trump administration. Immergut emphasized that the claim of immigration-related protests constituting a rebellion was unfounded. “The President did not have a lawful basis to federalize the National Guard,” she wrote in her decision.
This ruling is significant as it comes amid ongoing protests at an ICE facility in Portland, which have raised tensions between state and federal authorities. The judge noted that the legal implications of the decision are substantial and likely to be reviewed by a higher court. She remarked, “The ‘precise standard’ to demarcate the line past which conditions would satisfy the statutory standard to deploy the military in the streets of American cities is ultimately a question for a higher court to decide.”
Local officials, including the governor of Oregon, had opposed the deployment, highlighting the potential risks of federal overreach and the importance of maintaining state control during civil unrest. This ruling is seen as a victory for those advocating for state rights and limits on executive power.
As Trump threatens further deployments to other Democratic-run cities, this ruling sets a crucial precedent in the ongoing debate over federal authority versus state rights. Legal experts are closely monitoring the situation, as the implications of this ruling may resonate far beyond Oregon.
What remains to be seen is how the Trump administration will respond and whether they will seek an appeal. The legal battle underscores significant questions around executive power, federalism, and the balance of authority in times of civil unrest.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as it unfolds.
